Chicken found dead with a single puncture to the chest.

[Blueskeyes]

We are so distraught! We just found our almost 1 year old Barred Rock dead with no sign of anything wrong except for a small matted area in her chest feathers with a small puncture wound a little smaller than a pencil eraser. We have no idea what could have happened but we have 2 others and we want to keep them safe. Has anyone had a similar experience?

 

[MysteryChicken]

We are so distraught! We just found our almost 1 year old Barred Rock dead with no sign of anything wrong except for a small matted area in her chest feathers with a small puncture wound a little smaller than a pencil eraser. We have no idea what could have happened but we have 2 others and we want to keep them safe. Has anyone had a similar experience?

I've never had this happen, have any pictures?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. So sorry about losing your hen that way. Do you have a rooster with spurs? Can you find anywhere in the coop or run where there might be a nail or screw sticking out?

 

[sourland]

sorry for the circumstances. Are your birds penned or free range? If penned, is the pen covered ?

 

[AltonaAcres]

Did the wound look old or fresh? I've had a rabbit who just barely got nipped by a bobcat and died of infection, and I had no idea why it died until I saw a tiny (fingernail size) scab on the ear.

 

[Blueskeyes]

Welcome to BYC. So sorry about losing your hen that way. Do you have a rooster with spurs? Can you find anywhere in the coop or run where there might be a nail or screw sticking out?

We don't have a rooster. She seemed fine when we let her out of her coop at 3 and we found her dead under a tree 4 hours later.

 

[Blueskeyes]

Did the wound look old or fresh? I've had a rabbit who just barely got nipped by a bobcat and died of infection, and I had no idea why it died until I saw a tiny (fingernail size) scab on the ear.

It just looked like a fleshy hole but no blood.

 

[Blueskeyes]

sorry for the circumstances. Are your birds penned or free range? If penned, is the pen covered ?

They have a pen and then we let them free range when we are home. The pen doesn't have a solid roof.

 

[Blueskeyes]

I've never had this happen, have any pictures?

I didn't take a picture and we already buried her.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I didn't take a picture and we already buried her.

A picture of the puncture would've been helpful to help identify what caused the death.