Dead New Hampshire Red

[FosterMom]

After fostering two New Hampshire Reds through an awful and long winter, I went out this evening to find one dead. She was wedged against the edge of the coop, on top of a freshly dug area. She had been seemingly fine until today; when I went out this morning she was on the roost, which was quite unusual since she is normally the robust and active one of the pair and always anxious to be rooting around. Her head was plucked clean, as well as her eyes, it has to the other hen since there was no sign of anything getting into the small tractor coop. There had been straw on the ground inside the coop, and it has been a week of thawing temperatures and rain yesterday, which means it's a bit damp this week; today was in the 40s but with a brisk wind. After surviving the winter, it seems such a shame, and I've gotten quite attached to my foster hens. Any thoughts about cause of death are welcome.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry for your loss. That sounds very unusual. Could a rat or weasel have dug into the coop?

 

[FosterMom]

Didn't look like it, there was no evidence of digging on the outside. I'm taking her into the Animal Diagnostic Lab at Penn State tomorrow for a necroscopy, as a learning experience for me, I'll post the results. I'm also wondering if there are any specific signs that I should be on the watch for in the surviving hen. Thanks for the reply.