Lost my first chicken

[Chicken.Lytle]

My flock got wet in yesterday's rain. One hen was still wet when they went to roost and the others made her use the alternate roost.

This morning she was on the floor of the coop, apparently dead from exposure .

There were no injuries, no funny smells, no strange lumps.

Is exposure the most likely cause of death? What else could have killed her?

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

I do not know, possibly it was the exposure. But it still stinks, regardless. I am sorry..

 

[tammye]

so sorry. you are in texas, can't be getting that cold is it? she much have been ill and the othes knew it, so sad

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

It was 29F Christmas Eve. Christmas morning she was dead.

Of the six hens, we have been getting 5 eggs for a while. I had thought the formerly-broody BO was the slacker. But Christmas morning we had 5 eggs from five hens.

This makes me think something was awry with her, but I have no clue.

 

[Miss Lydia]

you'll probably never know unless you do a necropsy, sorry this happened. Especially if she appeared fine before.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

That is very sad.


A wet chicken will have problems warming up in 29 degree weather and no one to cuddle with. Sounds like a case of hypothermia.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Most likely from being wet, could happen even at warmer temps if they go to bed wet.

 

[Judy]

Chicken.Lytle :

It was 29F Christmas Eve. Christmas morning she was dead.

Of the six hens, we have been getting 5 eggs for a while. I had thought the formerly-broody BO was the slacker. But Christmas morning we had 5 eggs from five hens.

This makes me think something was awry with her, but I have no clue.

That just isn't cold for chickens. The fewer eggs combined with their rejecting her on the roost convince me she was sick. It's not that surprising that you didn't realize it, the way chickens hide illnesses.

Sorry for your loss.​

 

[stilldeb]

They may have rejected her because she was ill, too. It's all very sad. So very sorry for your loss.

deb g
KY