Dead Chicken

[aandemom]

What would cause a seemingly healthy 5 month old chicken to die? We have a mixed flock of 3 year olds and five month olds. They were successfully integrated about a month ago. My husband and I went out of town for 2 nights, leaving the girls enough food and water during our absence. When we got home we found our 5 month old buff orpington dead in the enclosed run. And she had been dead for at least a day. All of the others seem fine and we didn't notice anything wrong with this one before hand. I just need to know if there is anything I should be looking for in the other chickens.

 

[enola]

If I were you the first thing I would do is check each chicken's body mass. You will be looking for hens that have lost weight. How many feeders do you have for your hens?

 

[aandemom]

We have 2 - 12 lb feeders for 11, now 10, chickens. I wasn't home when my husband found her, but he didn't mention anything about her being underweight. They also free range for about 4 to 5 hours a day.

 

[Independence]

I am sorry to hear about your hen. I had a rooster die a few weeks ago and it is never a pleasant experience. You might check to see if your local university teaches veterinary courses. I have one near me which performs necropsies for $25. They are usually performed by grad students under the oversight of a professor. They have done excellent work and you cannot argue with the price.

//Indy