Cupcake found dead in coop this morning

[echip]

Went out to check the chickens at before dawn and found Cupcake lying on the coop floor dead. She was on her roost with the others last night when I "put them to bed", and was healthy and laid an egg yesterday.

It looked like her neck was broken, but I was too sad to examine her closely. Just cuddled her little body while hubby dug her grave.

She was lying on her stomach with her head tucked way underneath her in an unnatural position.

Speculation is that something scared them in wee hours before dawn and she flew into the sides of the coop and broke her neck. She was the lowest in the pecking order, but there was no blood, and her coop-mates were sitting on the roost as usual.

Any ideas?

 

[Carrie Lynn]

I'm so sorry, wish I had any suggestions. I think your theory sounds most probable. Again, I'm sorry you lost her.

 

[jenni22776rn]

Sorry for your loss =-( I think you are right in your assessment of what happened...*HUGS*

 

[Patchesnposies]

Your theory sounds very likely. I am SO sorry.

 

[NHchicks]

So sorry. I hate losing our little friends.

There was a really nice piece in someone's blog or newsletter, I can dig it up, about a bird's death being stressful for the rest of the flock because they're so connected to each other, and she recommended letting the rest of the flock see the dead bird so that they, I don't know, had closure. It was an interesting viewpoint.

 

[old geezer]

..sorry

 

[Darlasmum]

So sad for Cupcake