Hen fell over dead?

[Haley Clark]

My hen was happily eating away in her little bed this morning and 30 min later I go to let her into the pen and she is laying there dead! She had obviously been walking and just fell over.. So sad . But she had roundworms about 2 months ago and I treated her for that and she was looking a ton better, a complete turn around from 2 months ago and we finally get her looking and feeling healthy and she dies! What could have caused this because she wasn't laying and she was only about 2 years old?

 

[Judy]

If she wasn't laying, I'd guess it was probably ovarian cancer, internal laying, or some other reproductive issue. Ovarian cancer is pretty common in hatchery birds. Of course it could have been something else, a heart attack, a stroke, an aneurysm, any of a number of things.

You might want to look into what it would take to have a necropsy done by your state vet or a local ag college. It varies from state to state but is usually not expensive. They do have different requirements about the condition of the body, though, so it's a good idea to check it out ahead of time.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/40141/link-find-your-state-vet-for-a-necropsy/0_20

 

[Haley Clark]

Well we already buried her. But do you thing it was something contagious?

 

[realsis]

its really hard to answer that because we don't know why she passed. I'm very sorry for your loss. I agree with above post that if she wasn't laying likely it was a reproductive issue. hope this helps and again I'm sorry

 

[Haley Clark]

Thank you I appreciate the advice!

 

[dawg53]

Well we already buried her. But do you thing it was something contagious?

I dont think you have any worries about anything contageous. I agree with the previous posters, probably a reproductive issue...perhaps egg impacted. Sorry for your loss.