Yesterday, our oldest chicken passed away. There were no injuries, and there was nothing wrong with her. Today, I found her daughter had died. Again, no injuries, and it look like she just layed down and died. The mother was 8, and the daughter was 7, so they were getting up there in age. She was near the bottom of the pecking order and followed mom around all the time. The other guys look fine, no weight loss, all eating good, and no pale combs or puffed up birds. I have 2 more of her daughters, but they both are fine.
I have heard of that happening before. Two best buddies, one dies then the next day the other dies. Don't know if they had the same thing or if the second dies of a broken heart, but it does happen.
How sad! Stress can kill birds. I wonder if this would cause enough stress to have caused her death. So sorry for your losses.
Chickens that look perfectly fine on the outside are often riddled with disease on the inside. This is especially true with old birds. I know this because I have learned how to do home necropsies. I have not believed what I've seen inside my old girls! There are many things that cause hens to die, that have no obvious symptoms, including heart and liver failure to ascites. Stress, of course, always contributes. She is fortunate that she had a long (most hens are dead well before their 7th birthday) and well-loved life and died quickly without suffering.
So sorry to hear about your loss. I believe that chickens can die of a broken heart just like any other living being. I think animals have feelings too.
