Lost my favorite hen today

[Ebony Rose]

I'm going to guess she had a reproductive disorder of one variety or another. Your flock appears to be Rhode Island Reds or Production Reds; both prolific layers, but the latter more prone to reproductive problems that often prove fatal.

Quick kicking yourself over this. NOT your fault.

 

[kmmy414]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I too lost one of my favorite (I only have 5 so they are kind of all my favorite) hens (silver laced wyandotte) today. She was acting strange for only a day (not leaving the nest) and I thought she was just being broody but then when I let them out to free range in the morning she was slow moving but out and about. An hour or so later I noticed she had laid down in the yard and died. Im so heartbroken and beating myself up for not doing more for her. I'll be thinking of you today as you mourn your sweet girl too.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Thanks so much for you kind words. I guess I never realized I could take a chicken to a vet, would have to travel quite a ways to do that. I researched her symptoms and nothing really fit. What you said about an ruptured egg, was your hen sick for a while with that, or is that something that would kill a chicken quickly. I never really saw her in the nesting box for quite a while, so not sure if she was laying. Its like the illness came and went, and she always was eating, and felt like she would snap out of it again. Feel so bad that i could have helped her, she was very special, so loving. She loved her little chicknick table, always the first to jump on and eat. My husband made that for me along with an awesome coop, I'll post a picture of that too. I do appreciate your reply, thanks so much for thinking of me.

Greetings cathylynn,

Yes, you can take any species of animal to a vet. The challenge is to find a vet that will treat your particular animal. In the case of chickens, an exotic animal or avian vet will be your best bet. Some vet practices are now becoming mobile, and they will come to you. But for those who have chickens and are without a veterinarian's help, self education in the health of chickens is essential. As they say, "it's not if your chicken gets sick, but when they get sick", that you will wish you took the time to learn. You will also need to stock vital medications and treatments for your flock. There is nothing more agonizing than to have a sick chicken and no medication available. The nearest store may be a far distance away, or closed, or not have what you need. There are many good chicken health books online for purchase, it's best to get a hard copy.

From what you describe about your hen's intermittent illness, not going to the nest box regularly, and then her sudden death, I am leaning to the possibility that she was an "internal layer". In this condition the hen drops the egg yolk into the body cavity and not the oviduct. This can go on for some time. But, if not treated the hen will die. Sometimes if it is just a one time thing, the body will absorb the misplaced egg, if no other eggs are deposited, and the hen will recover. Upon necropsy some hens have been found to have many eggs, decaying and/or ruptured. In this case, peritonitis is the cause of death. A noticeable symptom is when hens develop ascites, or a swelling of the belly. Treatments for internal layers are: hormonal implants to stop egg production, spaying the hen, and least effective - antibiotics for infection from the decaying material.

I have treated hens suspected of being internal layers with antibiotics. Their lives were extended for a little over a year. But eventually they succumb to the accumulation of egg material in the coelomic cavity. Surgery is their best bet. Sadly, I have not been able to locate a vet willing to do a spay on a chicken.

These are my thoughts based on my experience and knowledge. I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless

 

[AntiqueB]

I'm so sorry about your hen. A pet is a pet, so grieving for a loved chicken is completely understandable.
This is my first experience with chickens, but not with birds. By the time a bird shows symptoms, it's often too late. They are very good at masking illness, and feathers can cover all sorts of lumps you'd see on another animal. We do the best we can, and that is all.