Found Loiuse dead tonight...any thoughts on why or how?

[Lynn57]

Maybe some of you have some ideas on why this happened to Louise today. I bought her and her sister (silver wyondottes) as 4 month old poults. They are now 8 months old and have been in perfect health. This morning they were 100% and tonight Louise was dead. She was in the "laying position" on the coop floor. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[KKatknap]

I'm so sorry! What a sad thing to find.

Had she been laying? Is it possible she might have been egg bound?

 

[ranchhand]

Hi Lynn, so sorry for the loss.
But the info is not nearly enough to go on, could you please answer the questions in the following link? It's a sticky note from the Emergencies section and very inportant.

Thanks, we'll all do our best to help.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3569

LOL, it works even better when I actually post the link.

 

[Lynn57]

Thanks, Okay I'll try to answer all the questions to see if we can figure it out.



What type of bird , age and weight. = 8 month silver laced wyondotte, normal weight

2) What is the behavior, exactly. = noticed no change in behavior at all

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?= none whats so ever

4) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.= no

5) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.= no idea, found in the "laying a egg position" wasn't even keeled over

6) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.= laying mash, little stratch, dried bread, blueberries (yesterday's treats)

7) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.= totally normal

8) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?=none, found her dead that night

9 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?

10) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.

11) Describe the housing/bedding in use= insulated chicken coop, shavings on floor, heated water dish, heat lamp on, temperature +3 celcius

 

[Lynn57]

kkatknap, I was thinking the samething. She is laying and has been for a couple months. She literally looked like she was sitting on a egg when I found her. Can they die this fast from that? I felt around her vent and couldn't see or feel anything??
thanks

 

[LynneP]

What a shame. Did you notice any signs of a broken neck? I'm wondering if she simply flew into something and fell to the floor.

 

[NYREDS]

The most likely cause is a heart attack. More common than you might think & it's usually the reason for a sudden death that wasn't preceeded by observable symptoms.

 

[Lynn57]

Well the thing I find a tad puzzling is that she was in a perfect sitting position. She didn't even look dead, she looked like she does when she lays a egg except her eyes were closed. Wouldn't a heart attack cause her body to ..I don't know...more like laid out?

 

[Lynn57]

LynnP... couldn't have been a broken neck because of the position she was in. It crossed my mind as well, but there is no way.

 

[Harleena]

I had a BO die like that. I thought maybe she ate something like a black widow spider?