Got home to a dead Black Copper Maran

[Chick Li]

Well we had been gone all day with a school function for the kiddos. When we got home I checked on the four newly hatched chick in the brooder. They were fine, running around and eating. Hatch date 4/30/2013 through May 1, 2013. I checked on the chicks with the Cochin, they were scratching, or pecking at something. Well I went back out in the backyard to let the hens out to forage in the grass. They are usually out for 30 minutes to an hour. I opened the door and they all came out. There is always a straggler who acts like she can't find their way out. So I am coaxing the last two out and something catches the corner of my eye. I look and am stunned it is one of my Black Copper Marans laying there not moving with what looks like her head buried in dirt hole! I call my husband, he looks and gets her. It was "Baby", my favorite. Baby laid the darkest eggs. They are only two months away from being a year old. In the last three weeks she had started laying much darker eggs. It was noticeable that reddish brown color. I knew she would be the one. We looked there was not blood. Her neck looked broken because of the position she had laid in, but it wasn't. Rigor just set in with a crooked neck.
Could she have choked, gotten in a fight? I don't know. I just knew "Baby" would give me the dark eggs. What is the county office you call to find out if their are any diseases? I can't remember.
The Black Copper Marans are mine. I just had to have some when I read that their were chickens that laid chocolate colored eggs. I am just plain sad.

Carrot (mossy) sitting with Baby.

They are both looking with the same angle. I love this pic.

Here is "Middle"

Baby as a young pullet.





Here is a close up of her.

Thanks for reading.