Dead chicken :(

[happychickies101]

Today we found our favorite chicken dead. She’s a buff Orpington and she is about 10 months old. We love her dearly. The chick we got her with was a rooster and she was living in a coop alone, unfortunately. She was right next to to other chicken’s coop but refused to be with them. Her feeder had food only in the very bottom I’m not entirely sure she can reach it. I feel terrible. We felt her food pouch and she still has some food in it. Yesterday there was a rat running in circles in the backyard and we think maybe she ate a mouse or rat that had poisoning. Please help us out.

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

What position was the bird in when you found it? Has it been acting strange? Eating drinking and pooping normally? Any weight loss?

 

[HuffleClaw]

so sorry about your beloved hen.

 

[snow5164]

I’m so sorry for your loss, that’s really sad .

Poison has a long list of risks , maybe get some traps ? That’s what we do because we love all our crazy cats.

If she was eating I wouldn’t worry about the dish , but as @jonezjollyfarm says, how’s the poop look around her?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Rats can also bite but biggest risk would be poison

 

[happychickies101]

What position was the bird in when you found it? Has it been acting strange? Eating drinking and pooping normally? Any weight loss?

She was on the dirt in her run with her feet up. She’s been acting fine and I held her yesterday she seemed just fine. She felt about the same weight. I wasn’t keeping track of her water intake but she did have water. I’m not sure if she was pooping right.

 

[happychickies101]

Rats can also bite but biggest risk would be poison

She wasn’t but we don’t think. She looked fine.

 

[happychickies101]

I’m so sorry for your loss, that’s really sad .

Poison has a long list of risks , maybe get some traps ? That’s what we do because we love all our crazy cats.

If she was eating I wouldn’t worry about the dish , but as @jonezjollyfarm says, how’s the poop look around her?

Her poop looks dry and I was only able to find a few pieces

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry for your loss

Unfortunately, there is no way to know the cause of death without further investigation, testing and necropsy. If you still have the body, you can refrigerate it and send it to your state lab. http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

If you feel up to it, you can perform your own informal necropsy, looking at the internal organs, reproductive system, intestines and crop to see if there is anything unusual. Post photos here on your thread or you can add them to the necropsy threadhttps://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/updated-test-your-diagnostic-skills-warning-contains-graphic-necropsy-photos.823961/page-40
so others will see them and give you their suggestions.
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/focus/contents/ceva_necropsy.pdf

What position was the bird in when you found it?

Position of a bird when it's found, I do not believe would tell much about the cause of death. When a bird is in the process of dying and/or dies, they flap and flail (even when being culled) so these movements would put them in all sorts of positions. You may be interested in the following video - warning - graphic video of a hen dying.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-sudden-death-syndrome.1121854/

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

If she was was eating normally there should of been lots of poop. Chickens poop soo much. Perhaps said rat was messing with her and that stressed her to the point of a heat attack. Some birds have a genetics that make them more likely to suffer a cardiac event. I think if she ate poisoned mouse there would be evidence that she had eaten it like mouse parts. I would get some traps to deal with the rodent issue and no use poison just incase. This sucks and I'm sorry for your loss.