HELP!! Chickien died in chicken house???

[girls and guineas]

Last night my plymouth rock hen was squatted down and dead in the open chicken cage! We thought she was fine yesterday, but don't remember specifically seeing her? There was a soft leathery broken egg shell on top of the cage where they like to sit/roost. Is that a clue? It has happened before, a while ago, with none of the hens seemingly adversely affected. I didn't check her out as good as I probably should have, before I buried her. Didn't notice any wounds. All the other hens seem to be fine. Her skin was greenish under the feathers back by her butt!! I was wondering about egg bound?? Does this happen very often?? Can you prevent it?? She was about a yr. old, and so sweet, and a good egg layer. It's so sad to have one die!!!

 

[girls and guineas]

Not sure if she was barred rock or plymouth rock??? She was speckled black and white!
Also, another question! Should chickens eat kernel corn, or should they have cracked corn?? We have deer corn that we feed the deer, and the chickens eat it too. They have the regular chicken feed available all the time.

 

[teutschb]

i had the same thing happen. i figured out that my rooster jumped ontop of her when she had a egg bound and the egg brock.she died the next day with a brocken soft egg near her. a way to prevent this is to always have a bowl of oyster shells in the pen.im sorry about the loss.

 

[girls and guineas]

Thank you! Fortunately, the place I got her from has 1 more left, that I can buy!! She will be the same age as the other ones that I already have. It's so sad when you have a chicken die!!