chicken blocked up?

[ChickenPixi]

I am brand new here just joined. I got three chickens from my neighbor, because her 4 where picking on them too much and she was afraid they would kill the littlest one since she has been picked on twice before. 2 of them are Americana's and the other is black I think she is an Australorp. She had that green tinted shine to her in the sun. They are about 5-6 months old, just old enough to start laying eggs now. I have been checking on them every day, feed, water, cracked corn and treats like spinach and grapes. They where fine but today I found my black one Lucy dead on the ground. She was curled up in a whole they had dug. She looked fine body wise but when I flipped her over her bottom was all blown out, and there was an egg tucked under her.
The only think I can think of is that she strained too hard and burst something trying to push?? I've never had chickens before so I have no idea.
I heard chickens can get egg bound, so what do you have to do to check if they are? And what can you do if they are egg bound that will help them? At least one of my other two have laid but I'm not sure about the other. I just want to make sure I don't end up loosing another one and I have to start all over again!



These are my girls. The little one in front is June, she is the one that got picked on a lot by the other group
The black one is Lucy the one that just died, and the one in the back is Gretchen

Thanks guys!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That is a very unusual occurrence, sorry, did it appear as if she was pecked by the other two? I personally have never experienced an egg bound hen and I have lots of hens, you may never know why she passed. Hopefully your remaining hens remain healthy.

 

[azygous]

Take a look at this link. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1058944/severe-vent-prolapse-graphic-pic

I'm thinking what you're referring to when you say, her bottom was all blown out is prolapsed vent. Since you found an egg under her, she probably had a hard time getting the egg out, and her vent collapsed, killing her.

While not real common, it does happen. It's almost never something a hen can recover from, and if they do, they will continue to have problems with laying eggs.

 

[ChickenPixi]

That is a very unusual occurrence, sorry, did it appear as if she was pecked by the other two? I personally have never experienced an egg bound hen and I have lots of hens, you may never know why she passed. Hopefully your remaining hens remain healthy.

No out of the 3 of them she was the top dog of the group. Though ivhad to take her body out because when I flipped her over the other ones started to peck at her.

 

[ChickenPixi]

T

Take a look at this link. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1058944/severe-vent-prolapse-graphic-pic 

I'm thinking what you're referring to when you say, her bottom was all blown out is prolapsed vent. Since you found an egg under her, she probably had a hard time getting the egg out, and her vent collapsed, killing her.

While not real common, it does happen. It's almost never something a hen can recover from, and if they do, they will continue to have problems with laying eggs.

hank you that sounds about right for what she had. I guess if she had lived she would continue having problems laying and been misserable. As much as it sucks looking a chicken I'm glad she isn't in pain anymore