Have you ever scared a chicken to death? (literally?)

[mstrawn3]

I have (had) five golden laced polish hens in a line of breebing pens right next to my Dominiques and Cochin bantams. A few weeks ago I was mowing the lawn and made a close pass by the pens blowing the grass away from them. All the chickens scurried to the back of the cages but they really didn't seem to totally freak out. The next morning I went out to feed and one of the polish hens was dead with no signs of injuries. She was on her back, feet up in the air. The day after that another one was dead in the same position. The three remaining hens have not laid an egg since. Now the Dominiques and Cochins have not missed a beat. They act like nothing ever happened. Any thoughts on this?

 

[andrew6d9]

Chickens can die from stress. I once heard of a bunch of chickens dying in China from a fire truck being so loud. The guy sued them and got money from his loss.

 

[mstrawn3]

Maybe polish are just a weaker breed. They have been at the bottom of the order since they were 6 weeks old... Anyone else have any input??

 

[EweSheep]

Not on my account but lightening storms did take my Wellie girl out last week. And I lost another hen a few years back, belly up as well.

 

[sonew123]

I did

she was the prettiest of my split lav hens-about 10 months old and had just started laying. I always pick my birds up to check them out and talk a tad-when I rached in to grab her she jerked around and as I held her in my arms she tweaked and siezured for a few seconds and was gone! She was perfectly heathly 5 minutes before hand--yah I cried alot on that one!

 

[Theapplechicks]

YES!!! and I felt horrible!!!!!!!! I was weed-eating the lawn after I mowed and they of course all freaked when I came near the pen. I got done and noticed one acting paralized (thought she was dead at first) so i pulled her out and she was freezing cold and acting really weird and like I said... paralized! I brought her in and tried to warm her up and had her wrapped in towels and stuff and I called all the local vets. (we have no chicken vets!) I finally got someone that was over an hr away to talk to me and they said it was probably fear and she may or may not pull out of it.... sadly she did not. By that evening she passed on. He told me that some are just very skiddish and easily frightened and it really isn't hard to scare them to death. I am now extra cautious around their pen when I cut grass. If they look like they are too freaked I move away! I felt like such a bad mama and know there was nothing I could have done, but still felt terrible!

 

[mstrawn3]

I guess next time I will just gently weedeat or mow after dark...

 

[twister]

omg, never knew this was possible. sorry to hear the sad stories but know that the info you all shared here will help others to be more cautious...i will be more careful before mowing grass around the pen... never thought of this before.

 

[ketcham]

I guess I have a hardy bunch.They all went inside when I cut the grass.I figured they would.Had thunderstorms today also.They all seem ok to me.This is their first night with out the lamp on.Ithink it will be good for them.I have them in the garage for now with a outside run during the day.Kevin Hope they like rain and thunderstorms----seems all we have had here in Marshallville!!!!

 

[Up-the-Creek]

My bunch must be pretty hardy,...lawnmowers, weedeaters, tractors, race cars, gunfire,.....and wild apes,..Oh! I mean children,...they all seem to fair real well.

I guess it is like anything else,.its all in what they get used to.