Another hen down...what am I doing wrong?

[chemew]

We just picked up two marans hens this weekend and the family we got the hens from gave us an older hen for free saying she would help train the other chickens. That was three days ago. Last night, the hen wouldn't roost and slept on the floor. This morning, I noticed she was just sitting around alot and had rubbed her chest feathers off. The kids also said the rooster was trying to mount the hen. He hasn't been seen to be doing this to the others - other than when the hens were first introduced. Reading around the message boards, it seemed to suggest she was becoming broody so I didn't worry too much until my daughter came in and said she thought the chicken was dead.

Sure enough, I went to the coop and she was dead. It looked like she had vomit coming out of her beak. Any ideas what happened? Was I given a knowingly sick bird? What could I have done differently?

The kids are really sad because she was the friendliest hen.

 

[cat1994]

Be sure to separate any and all new birds for a while when you first get them so you know if they come down with anything it has not spread to you original flock, separate any and all birds that seem ill (like a hen not roosting and or one just sitting around fluffed up, not eating or drinking things like this) put them in a quite warm dark place and give them electrolytes if you can and post about it on the Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures part of BYC so they can help sorry about your hen its not you’re the guy may have knowingly gave you a bad bird