I have been on vacation over the weekend, so out older neighbors watched the flock. Anyways, they said that the whole flock was okay last night. This morning they said they checked on the chickens, and my polish hen, Muffin Top, was sitting on the roost acting sickly. They didn't want my other hens picking on her so they moved her to a unused coop. They put her on a crate so she would get fresh air, they said her breathing was off. MT died around noon, they said. She rolled off the crate when I found her. I don't think they have her good or water in the coop, as I found none. Her crop was empty. Other flock acts fine. What do you all think? RIP Muffin 8-13-13/ 9-1-14
If you still have her body, does her crop feel empty? Feel down her chest to between her legs on each side of the bone: no stuck egg, no squishy crop/ chest? No bumblefoot? (( )) i am sorry.
She had bumble foot, but last week I had looked at if to see if it needed surgery, but I felt and it had no kernel. No squishy crop/chest. But I am curious, what does squishy chest mean? A hen we rescued a bit ago had that when she passed... I didn't feel a egg, but it was hard since she was so stiff. Empty crop. I hope not, I am disappointed as when the neighbors moved her they gave no good or water. I would be really sad if all it was is lack of water Thank you both
I doubt your neighbors caused her death. Staph infection from bumblefoot will take out a chicken in no time. You dont "feel" for a kernal, you perform minor surgery to remove the infection right away.
I have lost two hens within the past week and a half. Every morning and evening I spend an hour going over everyone, making sure the ladies are happy and healthy. My first hen I lost was completely normal in appearance, no signs of illness, I found her in the morning hardly able to move and shivering. I isolated her with food and water in our stock tank in garage with a heat lamp. She died two hours later. The second happened last night. I locked up the coop, made sure all the girls had made it in(coyotes). I found her in the coop lying on the floor, she was around 8 months old. I am at such a loss as to what could be going on?? These two were both young, crop was free and clear, no egg blockage, happy and healthy appearance Wise.
