Haven't been on in a while, busy with work and other things. Today I came out and found one of my chickens, a Partridge Silkie, dead near the run door (just inside the run). I was absolutely stunned, mainly because this is my first loss and I was not expecting it, but also because she was young and healthy as far as I know, and I am not sure why she died. She was only a year and a half old.
No health problems or anything odd that I ever noticed, in the past or recently. She seemed fine yesterday. There's absolutely ZERO chance of any sort of predator. My run is like Fort Knox, there is NO way anything got in, trust me on that. I won't get into a grand explanation of my run, but trust me that is is 100% secure from anything but perhaps a bear. Everything was intact, the other chickens seem okay, although they just stood around me, a few feet away, watching, and almost, well, I swear they looked sad. I am hoping I can post this without anyone feeling the desire to scare the heck out of me with disease stories of mass deaths, etc. But I am also wondering if I somehow caused this or did something wrong. Everything seemed to be in order, plenty of food, water, clean surroundings, etc.
Do young chickens just die? Could they just have some sort of condition and drop dead or is it only a sign of disease that could spread through the flock? I don't want to start freaking out and worrying about my whole flock, but on the other hand, I am just baffled why a young chicken would die so suddenly. No visible injuries by the way, and I inspected her pretty well.
Someone please tell me that this can happen, that is doesn't mean my whole flock is in danger (I've read too many horror stories on here), and that I didn't do anything wrong.
I feel so sad. She was special in her own unique way. When she was a chick I didn't know what she was so I called her "Speckles". Then later the speckles disappeared as she changed color. A carpenter was building my chicken coop and his little boys were playing with the chicks and I told them they could name one of them. They chose her and proudly announced that they decided on "Rachel". I thought that was the strangest name for two little boys to come up with for a chicken, but my word was my word, and so Rachel it was. Visitors liked to point her out because she looked different than the others, with her distinct black had and reddish brown body. I'd say, "Oh, that's Rachel" very seriously and watch their look of amusement at her name.
It's a sad day. I know people lose chickens every day, but I only have a handful and they are dear pets to me, and I am just very, very sad and so worried about *why* she died.
Goodbye Rachel.
Do young chickens just die? Could they just have some sort of condition and drop dead or is it only a sign of disease that could spread through the flock? I don't want to start freaking out and worrying about my whole flock, but on the other hand, I am just baffled why a young chicken would die so suddenly. No visible injuries by the way, and I inspected her pretty well.
Someone please tell me that this can happen, that is doesn't mean my whole flock is in danger (I've read too many horror stories on here), and that I didn't do anything wrong.
I feel so sad. She was special in her own unique way. When she was a chick I didn't know what she was so I called her "Speckles". Then later the speckles disappeared as she changed color. A carpenter was building my chicken coop and his little boys were playing with the chicks and I told them they could name one of them. They chose her and proudly announced that they decided on "Rachel". I thought that was the strangest name for two little boys to come up with for a chicken, but my word was my word, and so Rachel it was. Visitors liked to point her out because she looked different than the others, with her distinct black had and reddish brown body. I'd say, "Oh, that's Rachel" very seriously and watch their look of amusement at her name.
It's a sad day. I know people lose chickens every day, but I only have a handful and they are dear pets to me, and I am just very, very sad and so worried about *why* she died.
Goodbye Rachel.
