Fine one day and dead the next.

[dlbickar]

My 9 mo RIR was perfectly fine yesterday laid an egg (a little larger then normal) she was eating and running around with the other 3 hens.She was fine last night when I put them in the hen house for the night. This morning I noticed she was just laying around and had no interest in food water or moving... I thought maybe she was egg bound and brought her in the house and put her on some heat.A few hours later she died! I pamper my hens the have a heat lamp in the hen house fresh water and free feed of scratch and feather fixer, oyster shell and a treat of meal worms once in a while. I'm so sad! I have a neighbor who does nothing for his chickens and nothing ever happens to them.. I just don't understand how she could be fine one day and the next she dies...

 

[Judy]

If the others are fine, most likely she had some internal problem, perhaps something like a heart defect or liver problem, and there is nothing you could have done. You might want to check with your state vet office or ag college to see if they will do a necropsy. In many states this is available free or for a minimal cost, but you need to handle and transport the bird by their method, so it's good to check ahead.

Are you saying you are feeding scratch as a regular feed? It is not particularly nutritious, has a low protein content and no added trace nutrients. You might want to consider a standard formula such as layer or flock raiser. Scratch should be only an occasional snack, in small quantities.

 

[dlbickar]

They also get feather fixer pellets,along with the scratch..