Dead Speckled Sussex

[Ponte]

Three days ago I gave the hens a quick look, counted them and locked the coop door.
Next morning my kids open the coop door.
Late in the day I was told that the Sussex was missing, we looked everywhere without success. Today I found her dead in a corner inside the coop behind the closed bucket in which the feed is kept.
The Sussex was only about a year old, looked perfectly fine three days ago. The coop is secured and we have never seen poisonous snakes in the area. Quick inspection today showed no trauma.
The last day she was alive I gave the hens half a can of chickpeas, after given it to them I wondered if it was mistake.

Three questions:
1) could the chickpeas have killed her ?
2) do I need to disinfect the coop and how ?
3) should we stop eating the eggs for a while till we see if others die ?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. How old was she? It would be hard to know exactly what killed your hen without a necdopsy. A simple one can be done at home, or a body can be kept cold and shipped or taken in person to a state poultry lab. I believe yours is in Kissimmee. Chickens do die occasionally. Many times they have suttle symptoms that might not be noticed. Reproductive disorders, cancer, or crop problems are some of the common ones. Look them over for mites or lice. Worming them fairly often in your hot humid climate would be good, with Valbazen or SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer if they have been wormed recently might be good.