Just found one of my hens dead!

[Mia]

I just went out to my chickens and one hen, about 13 mths old, that I had noticed earlier today laying down in the pen (thought she was taking a dust bath) is dead. Her comb and wattles are extremely pale; she was one of my heaviest birds, not sure of the exact weight, and in fine feather. Not sure if she's been laying lately, but my egg production has decreased a bit (I thought because of warm weather /molting).
Looking at the others closely, I've noticed that one other hen has a very pale comb and wattles too.
I have 14 chickens total; 1 roo. I have never wormed my girls or de-mited them; I have noticed lately that some of the hens have "bare shoulders" that I thought may have been from molting also... also I have noticed some diarrhea, but thought it was from too many fruits/veggies scraps.
What should I do next? Should I de-worm, dust with mite powder, or what?
Would appreciate any advice at all - thanks -

 

[speckledhen]

That could be so many things-heat stress, parasites, etc. Usually parasites that would cause death would be very noticable, I'd think. Was she egg bound? I had two hens die from salpingitis/peritonitis and am losing another one to that, however, mine are heavy production types and are well over two years old. Hard to say. I'd first put vitamins/electrolytes in their water, perhaps check them over for parasites and maybe even dust them if you dont see them, just in case they're hard to see. Worming them is hard on their systems if they are already stressed. Get some buttermilk and pumpkins seeds (unsalted). Chop the seeds up and put them in a big pan of buttermilk and plain, active culture yogurt. That is a natural wormer, which may help if they dont have a huge wormload. Also, is very healthful for them. That's where I would start. Without a necropsy, it's hard to say why a hen died.