Dead chicken, need internet autopsy

[affacat]

Yesterday due to weather we kept our chickens in the run, we usually give them free range time. When we went to make sure everything was closed up for the night there was a hen huddling in the corner. She was muddy, shaking and trembling, still on her feet but obviously traumatized, and almost all of her back feathers were pulled out.

We brought her in for the night, but she was dead in the morning.

Was she bullied to death? Or was she sick and therefore shunned and bullied because she was going to die anyway?

Has anyone seen this before? We've had sick chickens before but normally the other chickens just leave them alone. I've never seen one get plucked before. We've also had chickens survive far worse injuries.

 

[ExoticPetOwner]

Was it cold outside, was she in any water, or could she have possibly eaten something she shouldn't have? If her feathers were missing, she was covered in mud, and shaking, she may have gotten very shocked and cold. She may have also been sick. Have you noticed any odd behavior before this incident took place?
It sounds to me like she was being bullied or had been attacked by an animal. Because she is a predator/prey animal her self, she could have passed from shock or trauma from the constant pecking, especially if her feathers were missing.
Sick/old/weak animals don't do good in cold or fluctuating temperatures either.
I hope I helped!
So sorry for your loss!

 

[affacat]

Was it cold outside, was she in any water, or could she have possibly eaten something she shouldn't have? If her feathers were missing, she was covered in mud, and shaking, she may have gotten very shocked and cold. She may have also been sick. Have you noticed any odd behavior before this incident took place?
It sounds to me like she was being bullied or had been attacked by an animal. Because she is a predator/prey animal her self, she could have passed from shock or trauma from the constant pecking, especially if her feathers were missing.
Sick/old/weak animals don't do good in cold or fluctuating temperatures either.
I hope I helped!
So sorry for your loss!

The run is secure. As far as we know chickens did this. It was cold and rainy out but she had access to a coop, rain cover, and other protected areas in the run. We didn't notice any sickness beforehand.

 

[That_australian_lad]

have you had any wild large birds (eg geese ducks turkeys) enter you chicken run they may have broken in.

 

[affacat]

have you had any wild large birds (eg geese ducks turkeys) enter you chicken run they may have broken in.

No chance. Very secure run. That's why this is so odd, it happened on a day wee didn't even let them out of their hoop