Found our 3 year old buff orp dead...

[MrBoZiffer]

She was in the nest as if she was trying to lay. She had probably only been in there for a little while before my wife found her, but she was getting stiff already. We're not sure how she could have died, so maybe ya'll can give me some insight.

She seems to have been perfectly healthy. But last night she was first to the roost--usually she's last--and this morning she was late getting up. She still seemed fine this morning. I spent about half an hour with our flock (3 now 2) this morning and everyone looked good.

Recently she has been laying great and very regularly. But yesterday I did find a shell-less egg in the nest. Maybe it was hers and the shell stayed inside her. What do ya'll think?

She was our least friendly bird but we loved her nonetheless. Sad to see her go.

 

[realsis]

A couple of things could have been going on
One she could have been laying internally and that caused an infection
Or she could have been egg bound. My guess is laying internally
I'm so sorry for your loss
;( because she was on her nest my guess is its defiently a reproductive issue. Again I'm very sorry

 

[MrBoZiffer]

Thanks. I think you're right. We've had others go egg bound but they made it through ok. She couldn't have been egg bound for more than two days. I know she's been laying well recently. I guess that's the nature of egg bound.

 

[jesirose]

Sorry

 

[seminolewind]

My first chicken was a buff orp, and at 3 years old, she died. Since there was no obvious reason for her to die, we just believed that they don't breed them to live long. Just to produce alot of eggs.

 

[roosterIII]

Sorry for your loss. Just went through a similar experience. And looking over the forum it seems many other owners have also with no solid explanation......

 

[MrBoZiffer]

Thanks all.

You know what's weird... About three nights ago I had a dream that our chickens were dead and my wife was standing around them. A few days later our buff orp dies and my wife finds her. Adding to the strangeness is that the buff orp basically died on the summer solstice.