Cause of death?

[shellarobertson]

Trying to determine what caused the death of one of my 2 1/2 year old Buff Orpington hens.

Yesterday she was sitting in a nest box continually contracting her vent. I examined her as best as she would let me and did not see an egg stuck or anything else wrong with her. She did not appear to be in pain or even uncomfortable. However, within 24 hours, she passed away. All my other chickens seem perfectly fine.

Hoping someone can shed some light on what may have caused this. Wondering if she may have been egg bound?

Thanks,
Shella

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Chickens may stay in the nest box when they are sick from many reasons, Do you still have the body? You could open it up to look for a stuck egg. When checking a hen for a stuck egg, just put on a rubber glove and insert a finger 1 inch or so, and you should feel an egg if it is egg binding. Your state vet can do a thorough necropsy if you refrigerate the body. Here is contact info:
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf