My young chicken died

[zookeepermom]

I have 3 chickens, all just turned one year old. My Buff Orpington has always been the largest, best layer and sweetest girl. This morning I found her dead in her hen house. She didn't have any signs of illness or injury. My other 2 girls look fine. Any ideas what could have happened?

 

[KaylorFarms]

Her egg may have been stuck that she was trying to lay. That can happen.

 

[sassysarah]

I am sooooooo sorry to hear that.

 

[sassysarah]

 

[infanman360]

To prevent that I had a buddy tell me to get calcium (crushed oyster shells) when they get into laying

 

[sassysarah]

I agree with Leah567

 

[zookeepermom]

Thank you for the responses. I do keep crushed oyster shells out for them to get extra calcium, what measures can I take to prevent stuck eggs? I felt around her belly and didn't feel an egg in there, but not sure as I've never experienced this before. Do you know other ways to tell if it's a stuck egg?

 

[strangeanimal]

Thank you for the responses. I do keep crushed oyster shells out for them to get extra calcium, what measures can I take to prevent stuck eggs? I felt around her belly and didn't feel an egg in there, but not sure as I've never experienced this before. Do you know other ways to tell if it's a stuck egg?

uhm i don't want to sound ' creepy ' but doing an autopsy is definitely going to tell the reason ...
If you like you can just do it yourself ( if that is fine for you ) or if you don't want to cut into her you can feel an egg that got stuck by using your fingers into her cloaca , you just need some gloves for that last part and if an egg got stuck you must be able to feel it in just a few inches deep , if you do not feel it , it is not there ...
I don't know about your country but you could , if you like also call a vet for an autopsy ( always cheaper to do it yourself ofcourse but I have no idea how you look at the idea of ' cutting ' into own beloved animals ofcourse , some eat them , some don't so I hope you will be able to feel it the way I explained it .

I'm very sorry to hear this bad news as well , wish you courage and spoil your two others some extra , they are having pain from this loss too ...
good luck with the possible cause .
Kind Regards .

 

[strangeanimal]

To prevent that I had a buddy tell me to get calcium (crushed oyster shells) when they get into laying

what most people forget is not only oyster shell but skeletons for birds ( you know those tropical birds always have a huge shell white colour in their cages ?? ) , that stuff is even better than oystershells !
You can combine it and I swear you won't see them having any trouble laying anymore , also you notice the difference very fast in your eggs