Lost a sweet girl today, completely unexpected

[ChickenLove1113]

I’ve had something similar if not the exact same thing happen to one of my hens a year back. I have a lot of experience with chickens along with their well-being, but I wasn’t sure about this either. It was a sudden event. One morning she was fine, and the following afternoon she was weak, couldn’t hold down food or water, and passed clear/white liquid.

I can offer no help as to what may have happened. I have ideas, but I am not very familiar with these complications and I refuse to explain something I know little about. Hopefully somebody can explain what happened!

Thank you for sharing! I’m so sorry you lost your hen under similar circumstances. It’s so hard!

 

[ChickenLove1113]

Sorry for your loss...I have a Roo whose comb turns purple a lot and according to the vet and other things i have read it is more than likely a heart condition. you could have her brought to your states lab and have a necropsy done if you really want to know what happened. The purple is due to the lack of blood flow. here is a link for you, keep it handy, bookmark it so you always have it to refer too. It has helped me a lot since I found it
Don't beat yourself up over this loss, as it more than likely isn't your fault. Things like this happen, and has happened to everyone of us at one time or another. I have lost two of my original flock, one to heat and one was a mystery, went out to do the morning feeding and she was on the floor next to the waterer. Came from same hatchery as well so you never know.

My heart goes out to all of you have lost a member or your flocks this way. It’s good to know I’m not alone, and I truly appreciate your words. Did your remaining birds get depressed when you lost your Roo? I’m so nervous her sisters are going to have a hard time finding their new normal since their leader is gone.

 

[ChickenLove1113]

I'm sorry you lost her I know it hurts so much.
As already said, there is genuinely no way of knowing without a necropsy. It's guess work otherwise. But yes, purple comb means lack of blood flow. This could be heart, respiratory, or even a tumor pressing against a vital organ. It's fairly safe to say, there is nothing you could have done

Thank you for the love and support. I feel like it should be illegal for these sweet birds to leave this way! I’m trying to focus on the good things. I know she had a good life with a big backyard and lots of love!

 

[ChickenLove1113]

I forgot that link in my post so here it is
http://www.poultrydvm.com/views/symptoms.php

This is such a valuable resource! Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[ChickenLove1113]

I'm sorry for your loss and that you joined under such sad circumstances
Unfortunately there is no way to know the cause of death unless testing/necropsy is performed. You can find your state lab here:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Your mention of "poisoning" as a possibility is concerning. Can you explain that a little more?

Thank you for the support, and the info. My girls have free ranged in my backyard for many months now and have obviously never had any issues getting into anything that makes them sick. I was just thinking because it was so sudden that maybe a freak thing occurred? We don’t use fertilizer or ice salt, and we don’t have anything back there that would obviously harm them. I was thinking maybe they got to something under the fence from the neighbors yard? Or maybe they ate a root or a leaf they don’t normally have access to and shouldn’t eat? I’m just grasping at straws here really. The other girls are still completely fine! I would imagine if it was something poisonous that they would all be ill, but maybe not. Just threw that out there in case someone has had just one chicken get into something and get sick.

 

[N F C]

I'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy when we get so attached to them

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the support, and the info. My girls have free ranged in my backyard for many months now and have obviously never had any issues getting into anything that makes them sick. I was just thinking because it was so sudden that maybe a freak thing occurred? We don’t use fertilizer or ice salt, and we don’t have anything back there that would obviously harm them. I was thinking maybe they got to something under the fence from the neighbors yard? Or maybe they ate a root or a leaf they don’t normally have access to and shouldn’t eat? I’m just grasping at straws here really. The other girls are still completely fine! I would imagine if it was something poisonous that they would all be ill, but maybe not. Just threw that out there in case someone has had just one chicken get into something and get sick.

I see - you were thinking out loud
If you do lose another one in short order, it would be good to refrigerate the body and send it to your state lab to find out what's going on.
Alternatively, if you feel up to it, you can perform your own informal necropsy to see if there is anything unusual. Quite a few us of do this, we aren't experts, but take photos and post them for discussion.

 

[ChickenLove1113]

RSL’s are sweet and mellow laid-back kind of birds. They are awesome.
So sorry for your loss.
They also are prolific layers.
Mine have not missed one single day since first starting at 18 weeks.
I think the mystery egg could of held a lot of answers for you. If you should get another... save it and post pictures.
Being egg bound can cause many issues. A reproductive problem can exhibit many symptoms.
I’m truly sorry for your loss.

They really are great birds, so sweet and gentle! I was actually wondering if it could be that she was egg bound too. Again, I couldn’t bring myself to look in her little box again, so I didn’t examine her vent. She was my best layer and has never had issues before this, but obviously something out of the ordinary happened here. I’m going to see if I can recover that egg and post a picture. Thank you for your support. <3

 

[ChickenLove1113]

I'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy when we get so attached to them

Too true. I miss her so much! Thank you for the support.

 

[ChickenLove1113]

I see - you were thinking out loud
If you do lose another one in short order, it would be good to refrigerate the body and send it to your state lab to find out what's going on.
Alternatively, if you feel up to it, you can perform your own informal necropsy to see if there is anything unusual. Quite a few us of do this, we aren't experts, but take photos and post them for discussion.

Yes, just trying to consider every possibility I guess. If I lose another, I am definitely going to do some better investigating. I don’t know if I have the stomach to preform the necropsy myself, but I think having it done is a great idea. I love my girls so much and just feel awful about this! I am so grateful for this community and all the wonderful advice. Thanks again.