Hen died unexpectedly.

[coopncottage]

Our Speckled Sussex, Mabel, died unexpectedly, and I'm wondering if I should have her necropsied.

I’m not sure what happened. My husband always opens the hen door when he leaves early in the morning to let the hennies into the yard, and then when I go out to scatter scratch I open the big door to check food and water and look for eggs.

When I opened the big door this morning she was laying on her side right up against it, no blood or feathers missing, just obviously dead.

Yesterday I noticed she wasn’t out scratching as much when the hens were free-ranging -- she was just roosting under a bush in the garden, but it was a hot day and that wasn’t that unusual. Then when it was time to lock everyone up for the night, she wasn’t in with everyone, and I found her walking along the run fence like she wasn’t sure how to get in. I picked her up and put her on her roost and she seemed fine.

Now I don’t know if she was sick yesterday, and died during the night. The only other thing I can think of is that she wasn’t a great flier, and she tried to fly down from the roost and hit the door and broke her neck or something, which wouldn’t be unlike her.

She was one of my daughter's 4H hens. :-(

Does it sound like an illness?

Edited to add: She was 9 months old, seemed very healthy in every way except for being fairly quiet yesterday afternoon.

 

[Leslieb118]

If she wasn't her usual self yesterday afternoon, it's possible she wasn't feeling well. Chickens can hide illnesses very well, and sometimes by the time you see something is off with them, its too late to intervene. I'm all for a necropsy. If it was an illness, you'll know, and you'll know what to possibly look for in your other hens if it was something contagious. So sorry for your loss!

 

[terryg]

If you have hens long enough you will have experienced this, that I call Sudden Hen Death (not to be confused with Sudden Chicken Death which is a recognized problem in young birds.) It is very unlikely that it is a contagious disease. It could be any of a number of things, from a genetic deformity inside of the bird, to something that you missed, like an impacted crop. Or, she could have, as you said, somehow become injured. I once had a hen that roosted on a sloped board and she slid off and broke her neck. Not usual but it happens! (I do prefer them to roost on the roost, and I have since changed that board so that a hen can't sit on it.) Necropsies are beyond my budget, but I have gone to a necropsy workshop, and watched tutorial videos. I now do home necropsies on all of my birds. It's worth learning how. I have numerous blog posts about what I've found. You can search my blog archives to read them. www.HenCam.com.

 

[Nic&Chickies]

Wow, me too.

I got on here to post about my unexpected loss. Same thing, she's been quiet, just a little "off" and was out of the coop last night.... then she died in my presence this morning.
Yes, have a necropsy done, if it is possible for you -- I just found out that my state university (UConn) will do it for free, for state residents. My local chicken-friendly vet's office suggested calling them, as it starts at $80 at the vet, before any samples are tested; it could be a couple hundred to find anything out (and I heard what he didn't say, that I might not even find out what I need to know, without spending big bucks).So, I'm waiting for their courier to come and pick her (body) up now.
If you have a vet for your chickens, start with them. Does your local university have an animal studies/agriculture/ or veterinary program? Check with them, also. Good Luck.

 

[coopncottage]

Wow, me too.

I got on here to post about my unexpected loss. Same thing, she's been quiet, just a little "off" and was out of the coop last night.... then she died in my presence this morning.
Yes, have a necropsy done, if it is possible for you -- I just found out that my state university (UConn) will do it for free, for state residents. My local chicken-friendly vet's office suggested calling them, as it starts at $80 at the vet, before any samples are tested; it could be a couple hundred to find anything out (and I heard what he didn't say, that I might not even find out what I need to know, without spending big bucks).So, I'm waiting for their courier to come and pick her (body) up now.
If you have a vet for your chickens, start with them. Does your local university have an animal studies/agriculture/ or veterinary program? Check with them, also. Good Luck.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss, too.

I was kind of perturbed with our vet. They don't do chickens, and when I called to see what I should do the person on the phone seemed like she didn't understand why I was calling them--I wish non-chicken people could understand the connection people have with their flock :-( . So I called Colorado State, and it looks like they will do a necropsy for $25... I left a message with them to ask how I go about having that done.

The more I think about it, the more I think she was maybe not feeling well. She was normally my chatty, noisy hen, and when I think about the last few days, she wasn't as "noticeable" as she has been. I've been so busy with work, and I haven't spent time out there like I usually do, so I feel bad that she might have been sick and feeling poorly, and I didn't notice :-(

 

[cirocha]

Hi there, sorry you lost your gal. We just lost one today as well. I swear when I was reading your post it was exactly word for word what happened with our girl. I'm so sad she was such a sweet girl & new to our flock. I'm concerned now for the rest of our girls. Would you mind posting the results if you decide to get the tests? thanks

 

[Tilley 2]

Hi, I've lost 2 hens also this week. They were best mates and one died unexpectedly then the other just seemed to give up and would not eat or drink. My other 3 appear to be in perfect health but I am devastated as I love my girls and really take great care of them but also baffled at the suddenness of it all.

 

[LukeImAChicken]

A few weeks ago we lost a chicken as well. It was fine the day before but then I went in to give them food in the morning, I found her dead in front of me. I did not know what to do so I disposed of her body. It still baffles me and I want to find out the cause. It was when we first got our flock of 12. So now we have 11 and I'm worried for the rest. Any advice?

 

[beccram]

Our little banty cochin died the other day too. One day he was fine, the next morning he was dead.
This makes the 3rd chicken since June - and we too have no idea what could have caused it....