Chicken dropped dead

[newtopoultry]

We are so sad, yesterday our chicken flew around in a circle laid on the ground and just died! She had been acting a little different lately, staying in the coop more, and my husband thinks she looked smallish and he said she had watery poop. We just lost our ducks to an attack last month and now this. We have one chicken left and she seems very healthy, I am now worried about the eggs from the dead chicken, and worried our other will be sick now too. We'd like to get more chickens and ducks, but are worried they will be sick. please help.

 

[chickflick]

I'm really sorry. I had a chicken die during the night. Just found her under the roost in the morning. Was fine before that. Sadly, things like this happen. If you are worried about the eggs, don't eat them. Keep a close eye on the other hen. Maybe disinfect the coop so your mind will be at ease. How old was she?

 

[newtopoultry]

My husband cleaned the coop out last night, I hate to waste the eggs if I don't have to, but I guess it will make me feel better. She was only 8mos old. thanks for listening.

 

[Oblio13]

Sometimes they just die for no apparent reason, and you never figure out why.

I try not to be a sentimentalist about them - I laugh when people write about "loving" chickens - yet getting attached to some of them seems inevitable. The unfortunate bottom line is that they're kind of "disposable". Between neighborhood dogs, weasels, raccoons, and whatever, you just have to keep "spares" and plan on a higher mortality rate than you'd like.

 

[dogzrule5]

I've lost some hens with no apparent cause as well. Last summer, I chalked it up to heat when two of my black hens, barley a year old, died.

Then I had a couple of my Buff Orphingtons die and it wasn't hot - they just died.

I've been told this happens, but it's still sad.

 

[dlhunicorn]

There is too little info here to even guess at what might have happened...feed, environment temps etc all play a role and truth be told without a necropsy you will never know for sure. You should clean out the coop run thoroughly and replace all bedding after disinfecting with a bleach solution. Be sure to offer fresh water daily and have the age appropriate feed for them. In hot weather you should cut out all scratch .

 

[gostlady6]

If you cut out scratch in hot wweather what do you feed them I havent ever heard this I just got baby chich and I have 5 grown hens now so what should I feed them and why should I not feed scratch???
gostlady6

 

[silkiechicken]

You have to get a layer or grower feed depending on their age. If some are chicks, they need a chick feed. Scratch can sustain them for a short time, but in their overall health and productivity, it is a very short incomplete nourishment for life.

Scratch lacks the vitamins, minerals, and protein needed for healthy birds. Plus, it takes lots of energy to burn and in hot weather, this can cause them to over heat.

 

[gostlady6]

Thanks so much for the info I new to the chick world!! I am learning alot from this site.