Hen died last night. Unknown cause of death. Any ideas?

[Dragonwolfmastr]

Our beautiful 41/2-year-old Ameraucana, Louise, died last night or early in the morning. I do not know what time. She was healthy and acting normal, grazing and eating and drinking just fine. She was hanging out with the other chickens, too. I came into the coop this morning and found her dead:

Still don't know what happened. (She is caught underneath the coop doors. Maybe she fell off the roost and broke her neck?)

I checked under those loose feathers on her right wing and did not see blood or a wound at all. You can see her toes are curled, it's like maybe she was still on the roost and fell off? Also, I don't know if her comb is normal... Is that the right color? I'm pretty sure it's been like that for a while, if not forever.
Please help me find out what she died from!

 

[212lnenne]

My poor Andalusian rooster died yesterday and pretty much the same thing it looked unscathed, I am thinking a possible heart attack, how old was the hen?

 

[212lnenne]

just saw you said 4 1/2 months.

 

[212lnenne]

I would say probably a heart attack because it’s comb looks a little purple.

 

[212lnenne]

I would just keep an eye on the rest of you hens for a while for any lethargy or anything off.

 

[Dacombe]

Looks like she got stuck under the doors somehow and may have died from the stress or from breaking a bone while struggling. Alternatively a small predator may have got in and tried to drag her out(?)- though one would expect to see some blood or sign of a forced entry if that were the case. Either way it's very sad. You should make sure there is no possibility other chickens can get stuck in the same way!

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Aww so sorry about your hen! She looks so pretty.

 

[212lnenne]

I’m sorry for your loss.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's hard when these things happen and you don't know the answer.

 

[212lnenne]

If she has had some purple to her comb and wattle for a while she may have had heart problems.