Chicken died of apparent seizure

[Sablehaven]

I found one of my hens, probably two years old, under the coop at night while I was tucking everyone in. Naturally I was concerned so I pulled her out and checked her over, found her extremely cooperative and quiet, and she had a small maybe two day old cut across her back. It didn't seem like enough to explain why she was so quiet or sleeping under the coop so I took her inside for more light. I finished examining her and found no more injuries of any sort, but she remained utterly docile and completely silent, so I decided to keep her overnight and have my mother help check her over again when she was home later tonight.

So I took her to my room, and noticed one of the big signs, she was leaking from her cloaca. Normal clear liquid with a little poop, and I've had chickens do that just because they didn't want to be carried, so I didn't panic just yet. I put the hen on a towel in a cat crate so she had quiet, and no draft from my fan and she was quiet for about an hour, then I heard a thump from the crate. By the time I got out of bed and over to her, I realized it was her flapping her wings and it had gotten frantic sounding, like a panicked hen realizing she was trapped. But, when I unlatched the top of the crate I realized her head was down and her neck stiff. By the time I had the top completely removed and had picked her up, she was mostly limp and no longer flapping her wings. She was leaking a little worse now, just clear liquid.

At this point, I was convinced she was dying, and clearly suffering so I started taking her downstairs and calling for my dad. By the time I was downstairs, she was completely limp, and I couldn't see her breathing, but could feel her heartbeat. She was dead before we could put her down.

I checked all of my other chickens and found them all bright eyed and responsive, completely normal. She weighed approximately the same as my other chickens, maybe a little heavier than some. There have been no new additions to my flock for several months now.

So, what could this be? Something she ate? A freak accident? Even chickens could get blood clots I suppose? I just really need to understand what in the world this was.

I can't confirm with certainty that she was healthy earlier today or yesterday, I have a lot of chickens and they are mostly identical and free range so one of them can easily disappear for a day without my noticing.

 

[boskelli1571]

I found one of my hens, probably two years old, under the coop at night while I was tucking everyone in. Naturally I was concerned so I pulled her out and checked her over, found her extremely cooperative and quiet, and she had a small maybe two day old cut across her back. It didn't seem like enough to explain why she was so quiet or sleeping under the coop so I took her inside for more light. I finished examining her and found no more injuries of any sort, but she remained utterly docile and completely silent, so I decided to keep her overnight and have my mother help check her over again when she was home later tonight.

So I took her to my room, and noticed one of the big signs, she was leaking from her cloaca. Normal clear liquid with a little poop, and I've had chickens do that just because they didn't want to be carried, so I didn't panic just yet. I put the hen on a towel in a cat crate so she had quiet, and no draft from my fan and she was quiet for about an hour, then I heard a thump from the crate. By the time I got out of bed and over to her, I realized it was her flapping her wings and it had gotten frantic sounding, like a panicked hen realizing she was trapped. But, when I unlatched the top of the crate I realized her head was down and her neck stiff. By the time I had the top completely removed and had picked her up, she was mostly limp and no longer flapping her wings. She was leaking a little worse now, just clear liquid.

At this point, I was convinced she was dying, and clearly suffering so I started taking her downstairs and calling for my dad. By the time I was downstairs, she was completely limp, and I couldn't see her breathing, but could feel her heartbeat. She was dead before we could put her down.

I checked all of my other chickens and found them all bright eyed and responsive, completely normal. She weighed approximately the same as my other chickens, maybe a little heavier than some. There have been no new additions to my flock for several months now.

So, what could this be? Something she ate? A freak accident? Even chickens could get blood clots I suppose? I just really need to understand what in the world this was.

I can't confirm with certainty that she was healthy earlier today or yesterday, I have a lot of chickens and they are mostly identical and free range so one of them can easily disappear for a day without my noticing.

Sorry for your loss. Sometimes chickens die for no apparent reason and we never know why.
If you really want to know I suggest keeping the body on ice temporarily and finding out the nearest place that will do a poultry necropsy (your local vet should know). Some places charge others will do it for free......
From your description of her death it sounds something like a stroke or something similar.

 

[Sablehaven]

Sorry for your loss. Sometimes chickens die for no apparent reason and we never know why.
If you really want to know I suggest keeping the body on ice temporarily and finding out the nearest place that will do a poultry necropsy (your local vet should know). Some places charge others will do it for free......
From your description of her death it sounds something like a stroke or something similar.

Thank you for advice, it really sucks to have one of my girls die with no obvious cause or opportunity to help. I will continue monitoring the others, but a stroke was my first instinct as well, and that at least isn't contagious.

Already buried the poor girl, and my curiosity isn't going they far, so we'll never know for the certain.