Chicken Death - not sure what caused it

[Sgsf]

My little hen sadly passed away today, and I'm not sure what caused it. Could it possibly be the heat? They definitely had water near them, and she was broody the other day. She passed away by the water bowl, which as I mentioned, still had water in it.

When I flipped her over on her back, there was a unorthodox bone that I saw. The bone looked like it was out way too much (sorry, it's hard to describe). I've never really seen the belly of a chicken, so I'm not really sure if that was the cause or it was normal. So can anyone post the belly of a chicken? I know it sounds weird, but it would definitely help me out.

That's really the only thing I saw that I was unfamiliar with.

Thanks.

 

[Suzie]

If the bone was in the centre of her body it would be the keel bone which would appear to be sharp if she was maybe not eating through to her being ill or perhaps as you say she was broody... sometimes a broody needs to be taken out of their trance like state and environment and introduced to feed and water... I am so sorry to hear of your loss - my thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Suzie

 

[Sgsf]

But she was broody about three feet away from the nearest water/food bowl. Wouldn't she have gotten up to get some water?

 

[Suzie]

Sorry to say but sometimes a broody will not leave their eggs to eat nor drink unless they are removed from their nest and encouraged to eat and drink - I have had to remove a few from their nest to get them to eat and drink.... It is difficult to determine whether she was ill or broody as sometimes I have found what I thought was a broody was in fact a chicken that was ill and subsequently died on a nest.

Suzie

 

[Sgsf]

Sorry to say but sometimes a broody will not leave their eggs to eat nor drink unless they are removed from their nest and encouraged to eat and drink - I have had to remove a few from their nest to get them to eat and drink.... It is difficult to determine whether she was ill or broody as sometimes I have found what I thought was a broody was in fact a chicken that was ill and subsequently died on a nest.

Suzie

Well thanks for the reply. Always nice to get a fast response.

 

[Whispering_Raven]

"....a broody will not leave their eggs to eat nor drink unless they are removed from their nest and encouraged to eat and drink..."

Suzie

That is so true. I've had broody hens that absolutely refused to come off the nest, and heaven forbid I try to move them! Can we say, attack of the birds? LOL....So I just bring food and water to them.

I'm so sorry about your hen dying. It certainly could have been heat stroke, but if you haven't buried her yet, I would suggest you make a call to your State Department of Agriculture and ask them where they perform Necropsy's. I would want to know why my hen died in the event it may something more that could spread throughout the flock. The Departments typically don't charge a large fee if any at all because by performing this type of livestock autopsy help them with research, which in turn helps us all.

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.

-Tracy