dead chicken - no sign of attack or prior symptoms

[adamjdanger]

I had six chickens of varying breed. All about 5 weeks old. The weather has been nice so i've been leaving them in the backyard during the day while i'm at work for the past week. This morning they all appeared healthy when i left for work, but when i got home and went out to bring them in one of the barred rocks was lying next to the fence dead. There are no marks to indicate that she was killed by another animal and I had not noticed anything wrong with her previously. The other chickens seem fine. Any idea what could have happened? Disease? Poison? Should i be concerned for the other five chickens?

Gratefully,

adam

 

[luvmychks51]

you really need to give her a good looking over. sometimes there can be a bite mark you miss. I have been lucky enough to be able to free chicks when they get stuck in a fence. chain link is bad if they get their head caught. She could have gotten stuck and broke her neck. it's hard to say for sure.

 

[adamjdanger]

i gave her a fairly thorough looking over and didn't see any marks. also it's a wood fence so i don't think she got stuck in it.

 

[kcravey]

That happened to me a few weeks ago. One died in her nesting box for no apparent reason. No symptoms or anything. It had me on high alert though. I cleaned out/sanitized all their coops, dishes, etc.. A day later my roo wouldnt come down from the roost. My vet told me the wild birds were flying south and spreading pox all through our county. I took the roo out and isolated him and started him on medicated feed, and some sulmet. Then the next day, I noticed pox on some of the others combs. Im thinking maybe she got it first without any symptoms. Everyone is much better now. Pox is going around right now. dont know if that is what happened to you but be on the look out for other symptoms. At 5 weeks are they still on the medicated grower? Maybe adding some vitamins also to their water... just in case....