Dead hen-looks flat

[Buzz88]

My husband found one of my barred rock hens dead in the coop. She looks like a deflated balloon and is basically flat. Any ideas?

 

[cavemanrich]

Sorry to hear sad news. Hope your other chickens are well. some die from natural causes.

 

[Buzz88]

Other chickens are fine so far.

 

[enola]

Do you still have her body?

 

[Buzz88]

Yes but she is in a big barrel with a heavy lid on it.

 

[cavemanrich]

Bury her and return her to earth. It will provide most respect and comfort to you. If ground is frozen where you are at, then wait till it thaws. SAD

 

[enola]

Since you say she was "flat" i am wondering if she had lost lots of weight? If she was down to skin and bones, you need to individually handle each chicken in your flock to check their body mass, look for lice and mites, check for dirty matted feathers and/or wounds.

 

[Buzz88]

I checked my other chickens tonight and they are fat and sassy.

 

[Buzz88]

The dead hen had no wounds.

 

[Areolyn]

Do a necropsy.