Experienced My First Chicken Death Today :( Questions!

[ponygal12]

Alrighty, Daisy is offically gone. Still not sure on a cause of death...but I feel better that I got to see her before she was burried. I don't think she's sick....but who knows!

R.I.P. Daisy May 22nd, 2010 - May 27th 2011

Big thank you to everyone!

 

[bobbi-j]

If it's been hot, it could have been the heat. Unfortunately, chickens tend to drop dead for no apparent reason sometimes. As far as your mom, give her a break. Sometimes we moms do things that don't make sense to anyone but us. We try to do what we think is best, even if our offspring don't agree.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

 

[taprock]

I'm sorry about your girl. About two weeks ago I lost two girls in the same week with no symptoms of anything wrong and we haven't had any heat this year! The second girl I had a friend open up to check to see if there was something that looked wrong - I couldn't do it. Even that didn't give me any answers although it did rule some things out. It doesn't really get any easier - I just lost my favorite pullet today - but it does make me appreciate them more and care for the ones I have now.

 

[DesertChickLover]

I'm so sorry for you!

My first chicken death was from heat stroke and lack of water. Make sure your chickens can keep cool and always have water. That's the best advice I can give.

This thread is one I found in the FAQ: 10 tips for a cooler coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5944

 

[nancypo]

I lost my first one vey suddenly and she died in my arms last month. She was fine the night before, after work I let the 3 girls out of the coop, she went and sat under a shrub. After a few minutes I noticed she was shivering and droopy. Brought her inside, she died within about 5-10 minutes. I have no idea why, very frustrating

I cried for days...

 

[CariLynn]

Quote:
Going to 2nd this. I have had two hens from my original flock die, one from a hawk and one from some unknown reason, though we believe it could of been a stroke. Things happen, watch your flock, try not to be too worried and enjoy the ones who you still have.

 

[nancypo]

I lost my 2nd one today Pru. She looked asleep in the bottom of the coop, was fine yesterday. I'm heart broken... Two in 6 weeks for no apparent reason...

 

[Tbird84]

I lost 2 in about a week myself. I think it was the heat. Made me sad because the hen had 1.5wk old chicks. Luckily, her mate was doing an outstanding job of helping care for them and he still is. But I'll still keep an eye on him. I really liked her too.

 

[tuckertori]

I got my very first 4 girls in March. A couple of weeks ago, a came home to one laying separate from the others and breathing hard. It had been chilly the night before so I brought her in the house again. I held her on my chest and fed her water a drop at a time for a couple of hours when she finally died. My 20 year old son was with us. He was really touched by it. Who knew we would become so attached to chickens in such a short time? I understand your sadness. They have personalities and are so much fun. I have learned how fragile they are and how quickly the can go from healthy to death. Glad you have the others to keep you company.