4.5 mo old RIR pullet died suddenly

[R.M. Hens]

I had a 4.5 mo RIR pullet die suddenly this morning. She was getting close to laying, but had not layed her first egg. She, as well as the other 22 birds in my flock have been fine. No problems at all. I do not let my birds free range, but they are in a huge fenced in chicken yard. Yesterday, all of a sudden, Polly was found laying away from the others and would not move to eat or drink. I put her in her own kennel and gave her about 5 cc of water and 2 cc of sugar water with a syringe before she went to sleep last night. Checked on her this morning and she was gone. I haven't noticed any changes in poop or anything. All of the other birds are fine. Any ideas on what could have caused this? Should I go ahead and worm everyone or start a round of antibiotics?

Thanks for the help.

 

[easttxchick]

Could it have been the heat? I don't know where you live, but the heat has been brutal in a lot of the country lately.

 

[R.M. Hens]

It very well could have. I am in southern Louisiana. We have had nothing but rain for the last week. Yesterday was the first sunshine we have seen and of course it was very humid and hot. The temp was in the lower 90's. We have had many much hotter days than 90 though. None of the birds were panting or anything when I got home from work. I wish our birds could tell us what is wrong. It would be sooo much easier.