Dead Chicken...eaten eggs!

[MikeBarnes]

I have just found one of my welsummer hens dead inside the coop. She seemed well yesterday along with the other ten birds of various breeds. This particular bird seemed to be top of the pecking order. She was still warm when I found her, suggesting that she was not long dead. I also found that two eggs had been broken and eaten in the nesting boxes, again the signs of the damage was fresh. I have never seen any evidence that any of these birds have eaten eggs before. Could this hen have eaten the eggs and got killed by the shells. I can not see any outer evidence of injury to her body or plumage.
Any suggestions would be welcome to help solve my mystery.
Thanks

 

[PappasMomma]

So sad. Sorry for your loss. Have you done a necropsy on her?

 

[MikeBarnes]

Hi,
I have not yet done a necropsy on her. I have never done one before! I shall do some homework on that quickly.

 

[iwiw60]

I'm almost wondering if some predator got in and got your hen...you did say she was at the top of the pecking order. She very well could have been protecting the coop and was killed. You say some eggs were eaten? Almost sounds like a weasel or raccoon possibly. You might check to see if there are any tracks around or obvious 'break-in' spots....just thinkin....

 

[MikeBarnes]

Thanks for the reply,
My coop is pretty much bullet proof. So much so I never thought to check. Raccoon is out of the question but a weasel perhaps! I am on my way out to check right now!
Thanks

 

[iwiw60]

Did you see any signs???

 

[MikeBarnes]

No signs of a break in. I have 2x2 heavy gauge cage framed on 4x4 posts on the outer side of the coop run and 1/2 inch wire mesh on the inner side. All still in tack.
I am working on the theory that the hen got shell inside her. Either that or perhaps she had an egg break whilst she was laying it. I did try to examine her externally for damage but found none. She was also curled up in a corner of the coop, implying that she was injured and later died of her injuries.

 

[iwiw60]

So sad....sorry for your loss. We are never prepared for the loss of one of our chicken kids....be sure to give your remaining girls big hugs tomorrow!