Hen died within 48 hours - perfectly healthy beforehand!

[bmarie]

My young hens (less than a year old) were brought to us and were happy and healthy for a solid few months and then one fell ill. Every morning I go to the coop to collect the eggs and top up food/water if need be. Here's a short play out of what happened.

Morning/Day 1: Walked over to the coop, chickens were already out and on the grass. Noticed only 3, thought nothing of it - fourth chicken was in nesting box so I waited on collecting the eggs until later (they tend to lay in the same box for some reason). I came back later that afternoon and said chicken had moved underneath the nesting boxes in the corner. Collected 3 eggs that afternoon.

Morning/Day 2: Same routine, checked the food/water and checked nesting boxes for eggs. Fourth chicken still hadn't moved (I assume) from underneath the nesting boxes, I now started to think something was really wrong or she was just having trouble laying. I was banging a stick on the side of the coop and putting my hand under but she didn't even flinch. I honestly just needed to see her move for own peace of mind, at this point I'm really worried. Finally got her moving she moved about a foot from the corner and she was very stiff. I was able to see her back end and it was bloody/oozy and very gross. At this point, we just agreed to keep a close eye on her. That evening she was back in the corner and very lethargic.

Morning/Day 3: Quickly checked chickens food/water etc and then left to go horseback riding. She still hadn't moved at this point. Was gone for a few hours and when I got back she was out of the coop and across the grass on the far side of the run, dead.

I freaked out and checked for eggs while I was there and there were two LARGE but clean eggs in the nesting boxes. (Could have been from the others). I have been told that an egg too big can kill a hen very fast but I just want to know what you guys think happened? Thanks in advance

 

[QueenMisha]

Sounds like egg binding and/or prolapse. Both are treatable but will kill quickly if left untreated. Whenever you see a bird acting off, you should always perform a physical examination and segregate the bird to monitor it.

 

[bmarie]

Thanks but as these are our first chickens we really weren't sure. They do rest in the coop often and are picky of when they want to be outside etc. A lesson learned I guess but it all happened so fast. They are also too skittish to handle, so that was a problem aswell.

 

[Pork Pie]

Almost every day is a lesson learned when keeping chickens. Don't beat yourself up about it - be positive. Almost without exception, you will have one or two skittish flock members. The easiest way to examine them is to pick them off the roost, as night falls.

Best wishes