first time chicken owner

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out.

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello from Lower AL and Welcome to BYC! Glad that you joined us. So very sorry for your loss.

 

[grumpylump24]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

Sorry about your poor hen. Are you sure she wasn't showing symptoms of illness prior to last night? Chickens are surprisingly unbothered by thunder, gun shots, etc.

she was my most seemingly healthy hen, top of the pecking order, most vocal... perfectly happy and fine hours before.. it was broad daylight and the thunder cracked and rain downpoured so heavily she couldn't have been out there for more than five minutes though before I brought her in. I live right next to a contracting company so they are very loud all the time so I didn't think this was the case either. but when I brought them inside she stood in shock with her eyes wide and I wrapped her up and then within twenty mins her wattle turned pale, she convulsed, and was gone definitely am not positive what happened but she was the top of my flock. I have been told my chickens are bigger than "average" from a friend who has 100+ chickens so I thought a heart problem could have definitely played a role and am going to address their diet /feed accordingly if anyone has tips on that. it's also a bummer because we are in the process of greatly expanding their grass area but at least my other girls will not face the same fate if obesity played a role. thank you all for your kind words and support

 

[TwoCrows]

she was my most seemingly healthy hen, top of the pecking order, most vocal... perfectly happy and fine hours before.. it was broad daylight and the thunder cracked and rain downpoured so heavily she couldn't have been out there for more than five minutes though before I brought her in. I live right next to a contracting company so they are very loud all the time so I didn't think this was the case either. but when I brought them inside she stood in shock with her eyes wide and I wrapped her up and then within twenty mins her wattle turned pale, she convulsed, and was gone definitely am not positive what happened but she was the top of my flock. I have been told my chickens are bigger than "average" from a friend who has 100+ chickens so I thought a heart problem could have definitely played a role and am going to address their diet /feed accordingly if anyone has tips on that. it's also a bummer because we are in the process of greatly expanding their grass area but at least my other girls will not face the same fate if obesity played a role. thank you all for your kind words and support

Like any other creature, chickens can have heart trouble and it's not unheard of to have a sudden death. The only way you could be sure would be to have a necropsy done on her. I lost chickens to heart disease from using well water that was too high in sodium for the birds. I didn't know better early on. Caused all kinds of congestive heart failure.

 

[Blue Raptor]

hi, I am a 25f raising hens for the first time. I have four girls.. three as of last night. we had a very intense surprise thunderstorm come through and she seemed to have had a heart attack . I'm devastated and having a hard time figuring out how to cope but am happy to be here and learn ways to protect and prevent harm to my girls in the future. I also wanted to give her a good memorial but am not sure what to do. I wanted to keep a few feathers and turn those into something nice, and then bury her at my family home. I look forward to being a part of and learning through this community. nice to meet you all and I wish it were on a more positive note but it is what it is

Welcome to BYC! I’m sorry about your hen.

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC!
Fatty liver disease can kill quick without a sign of illness.
What exactly do you feed your flock?

 

[grumpylump24]

she was my most seemingly healthy hen, top of the pecking order, most vocal... perfectly happy and fine hours before.. it was broad daylight and the thunder cracked and rain downpoured so heavily she couldn't have been out there for more than five minutes though before I brought her in. I live right next to a contracting company so they are very loud all the time so I didn't think this was the case either. but when I brought them inside she stood in shock with her eyes wide and I wrapped her up and then within twenty mins her wattle turned pale, she convulsed, and was gone definitely am not positive what happened but she was the top of my flock. I have been told my chickens are bigger than "average" from a friend who has 100+ chickens so I thought a heart problem could have definitely played a role and am going to address their diet /feed accordingly if anyone has tips on that. it's also a bummer because we are in the process of greatly expanding their grass area but at least my other girls will not face the same fate if obesity played a role. thank you all for your kind words and support

TRIGGER WARNING the first pic to the last pic are 35 minutes apart .. I should have noticed her change in color I really am not sure what happened.

 

[Kiki]

she was my most seemingly healthy hen, top of the pecking order, most vocal... perfectly happy and fine hours before.. it was broad daylight and the thunder cracked and rain downpoured so heavily she couldn't have been out there for more than five minutes though before I brought her in. I live right next to a contracting company so they are very loud all the time so I didn't think this was the case either. but when I brought them inside she stood in shock with her eyes wide and I wrapped her up and then within twenty mins her wattle turned pale, she convulsed, and was gone definitely am not positive what happened but she was the top of my flock. I have been told my chickens are bigger than "average" from a friend who has 100+ chickens so I thought a heart problem could have definitely played a role and am going to address their diet /feed accordingly if anyone has tips on that. it's also a bummer because we are in the process of greatly expanding their grass area but at least my other girls will not face the same fate if obesity played a role. thank you all for your kind words and support

Sounds like you already found out that diet is extremely important.
Cut out all treats for good and offer only a pelleted or crumbled feed.

 

[TwoCrows]

TRIGGER WARNING the first pic to the last pic are 35 minutes apart .. I should have noticed her change in color I really am not sure what happened.

 

[Kiki]

TRIGGER WARNING the first pic to the last pic are 35 minutes apart .. I should have noticed her change in color I really am not sure what happened.

What state are you in?
If you lose another bird you can refrigerate the body, not freeze it, and over night it to your state lab for a necropsy that will give you an answer as to why.