Bad conscience

[am-nor]

I think I may be the reason why one of my hens died. I feel so bad. I let my hens out during the day when I'm around them. Before going shopping I got them all safely in the run. They all looked fine. Came home after dark and went up to shut the door to the coop. I usually count them but didn't do it this time. It's never happened that they haven't all gone in on their own. In the morning I found Penny outside dead. I can't see anything wrong with her. Is it because she was seperated from the flock and all alone? I didn't hear any commotion or anything either.

I will always count my chickens after this. I'm just sorry I didn't do it last night

 

[Pork Pie]

Her death and being segregated from the flock are not related. It could possibly have been a sickness that made her reticent to enter the coop in the first place, for fear of being pecked by the rest of the flock (chickens can be merciless when they see that a flock member is sick).

CT

 

[pippo]

Oh that is terrible! I'm sorry this has happened.
Was she close to the coop? Was it cold?

 

[am-nor]

She was laying right outside the door when I found her. It was maybe 40 degrees out last night.

 

[Stellaluna555]

I,m so sorry for your loss!

 

[am-nor]

It's only a hen but when you only have five you get to know them for the individuals they are.

 

[amynrichie]

I'm sorry this happened to you. A lot of us have accidentally locked a hen out at one time or another. It's happened here,too. We were just lucky we didn't lose her.
I agree that her death was not directly related to this. If you see no sign of predator influence, then she may have been ill already.