Could our hen have choked to death?

[nelsonsflock]

Hello,

Yesterday our year old Plymouth Rock hen was found dead in the fully-fenced in chicken yard. We checked over her and there are no outward signs of trauma. We have 8 other birds and they seem fine. The only thing I can think of is that she may have choked on the fresh veggies I gave the chickens, the only new item was fresh corn. Is it possible for a chicken to choke on kernels of corn?

Does anyone have any other reasons why a hen would unexpectedly drop dead?

Thank you.

 

[barnyard betty]

I'm so sorry...

It is hard when you aren't sure why they died.
Usually the wattles and comb will be blue-ish if they have choked from lack of oxygen. But not always.
Again sorry for your loss....I just lost a hen today myself and her wattles and comb were very blue...though I don't know if she just choked or what because there was some bloody diarrhea around as well.

 

[nelsonsflock]

I'm sorry for your bird's death too. I hope this is a one time thing. Poor birds! I wish I could figure out why they die so quickly.

 

[Transit]

It probably was the corn. Sometimes humans get kernals stuck in their throat, and it hurts! Imagine that on a chicken!
But at least she passed away and is in a better place now. It would have been worse if you woke up and she was still chokeing.
I shrudder at the thought of that!
I reccomend taking the corn out and never putting it back in.