Hen found panting with lots of soft and loose feces matted around her back-end and vent - died

[happierfacts]

Help... I've lost my first dear chicken yesterday. All in the flock have seemed quite healthy and active. I found my prettiest EE girl "hiding" in a strange place yesterday panting with lots of poo on her back end. I picked her up onto my lap, turned her over a bit and tried to clean off the matted gunk. Her vent was swollen with a small red mass protruding. There was a terrible stench and she was gaseous. She suddenly died in my arms to my horror. What might have caused the diarrhea and panting? Did I cause her death accidentally? What should I do to protect the rest of the flock (6 hens, 1 roo - 3 EE and 3 RIR).

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Sounds like prolapsed vent.

 

[happierfacts]

Thank you, Amelia, for your reply and the detail information in the links.