Chicken just fell over dead?

[juliawitt]

I am very sad. My Sue chicken died yesterday. She had been given to me back in August. The woman who gave her to me said she was 18 months old. She went into molt in the middle of January, but I was giving her extra protein and her feathers were coming in nicely. She was eating and running around, but not laying. I came home yesterday, went out with some veggies for treats, and found her, laying in the middle of the chicken yard dead. The other chickens had cannabalized her but no talon marks and no sign of a break in. I am just heart sick thinking of her possibly being ill, and I didn't take care of her. I am also sick thinking of her laying there, maybe still alive being eaten on by her sisters. My husband thinks maybe the rooster killed her because she wasn't one of his girls? Or he also thought, that since she was much older, molting and possibly weaker, the other chickens "culled" her? Could that have happened? No one else is showing any signs of sickness. No feather loss, all are laying, and all are eating. Everything seems just fine....except for poor, poor Sue.......

Oh and they have a clean, big fenced in yard. I give them a high quality layer pellet, with warm oatmeal and cottage cheese (2X a week), a good quality scratch in the morning and some kind of little treat at night before bed such as a little wheat bread or apples.

What could have happened?

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Unfortunately, there is sometime no obvious explanation for a chicken's death. They do develop heart problems and it could have been that. When a chicken is ill you will generally notice them sitting around puffed up and not eating or drinking. I do know that molting can be hard on them, especially if it is an extreme molt. Mine are molting now too and they look miserable.

You'll have lots of folks offer up opinions about the possibilities, but the best way to find out is to take her to your state vet and have a necropsy done.

I am so sorry...I do know how you feel. We lost our sweet little silver spangled hamburg hen to a hawk a few days ago....it's so hard!

 

[juliawitt]

Thank you for your message....no one else has replied. She was eating and drinking just fine. I suspect she was actually alot older that the woman said she was. I feel better today. She had be living in chicken hell before coming to us. Since coming to live with us,she had been getting all kinds of treats, getting to run around a really big chicken yard, safe from predation and lots of rubs and pets. I think she was a happy chicken and I made her last months good. Her friend "Sam" has acted a little lonely today, but the others aren't picking on her, she ate her treats and I think she is okay.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Many times we never know what does cause their death.

 

[joedie]

This has happened to me 4 times in the last 5 months. The last one died about 5 days ago. I have no idea why. None acted sick prior to finding them dead. I'd think if there was an illness in the flock I lose more than one a month or so. I'm clueless!

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I'm sorry for your loss! It's always so sad losing one, especially unexpectedly/suddenly like that.

Like oldtimegator said, it could have been heart problems, or internal laying or something like that. Sometimes there's just no way to know for certain. If you're extra-concerned, you could see if any veterinarians in your area would be willing to do a necropsy. Other than that, if everyone else seems well and happy and you don't lose any more, sometimes we've just got to accept that we won't ever know.

I hope the rest of your flock continues to stay healthy, and again I'm sorry you lost her.

It's very sad losing chickens, don't let anyone tell you "It was just a chicken," or anything like that. They can be members of the family just like any animal. I just lost one about a week ago unexpectedly, and I was so miserable over it. I'm still upset about it...

 

[henney penny]

I lost one of my silkies two weeks ago,like you I went in to coop and she was laying there dead,she seemed fine the day before,the others did not peck at her and I am grateful for that.So sorry for your loss I know how it feels as well as others here

 

[rancher hicks]

After all the things I've read you shouldln't feel to guilty. Chickens are fragile and sometimes die w/o explanation. I'm sure you took fine care of her and I'm sure she knew it.

 

[RasMama]

I had my BO hen die like this about 2 weeks ago. It's hardest when you have no forewarning. In my case, Olympia laid her egg for the day (had 7 in the nest box, with 7 hens, so she must have), and had been nearly daily, then I found her on the floor of the coop with her head under her and her legs behind her, cold and stiff. No illness leading up to it, no injuries, just my poor dead hen. It was a learning experience for my 2 yo daughter, who really 'saw' death for the first time. She's still telling anyone who'll listen that "Olympia dead, Olympia cold, gone forever". Hope the rest of your flock is well and your heart mends quickly.

 

[whitnichole]

Ive had 6 chickens die on me and I'm not sure why I'm very upset they are 10 weeks old it seems our pet chicken who is the smallest of them is doing perfect she gets out of her coop at day break stays out all day nd goes in at night to sleep! I'm so shocked!