Mysterious Death of a RIR Hen :(

[JacksonB54]

Lost a hen today and am looking for info that may help protect our others. She was a RIR about 16 months old. Yesterday, I first noticed odd behavior when she was in a box outside the pen. I thought she would lay her egg there, since ours aren't very picky about where they lay. Last night, she was the last one to the coop, and I noticed she acted like other hens I've had who were egg bound. This morning, she wouldn't leave the coop, so I brought her in and gave her about 10 min's in a warm bath and massaged her belly. Couldn't really FEEL an egg in there (which I've been able to do with a bantam hen before), but that was the way she was behaving. Took her out and put her in a box in a warm room and coated just inside her vent with vasoline. Nothing happened, so I put her back in a warm bath again, this time for about 20 min's. Again, nothing happened except that she pooped a small amount of completely white poo in the water. Wrapped her in a towel and started back to the warm room, when she began flapping and trying to get away (before that, she'd been totally docile), and a smelly green liquid came out of her mouth and nose. I massaged her crop (thinking maybe sour crop, even though there didn't seem to be much in there at all), and a tiny bit more came out. Then suddenly, she died!

Despite the fact that what came out of her beak was smelly, there was only about an eighth of a cup or less. Have wracked my brain trying to figure out a cause--even knowing that chickens just sometimes die for no obvious reason--and can't come up with any ideas. It hasn't been very hot here for a week, so that's not likely the cause. There hasn't been a change in their feed or their water, either. We have 5 chicks and the rest of our adult flock, so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas about possible causes???? Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[1Teacherchick]

I'm new to chickens, so I don't have any answers. Just sorry for your loss.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I'm sorry about your hen.

That is very sad. I've been doing some research and have a few questions for you.

Was her crop full? Had she been eating? Do you ever worm your flock? How were her eyes? Dull or bright? What I've read says it may have been bile from her liver. I'll keep looking.

 

[JacksonB54]

Thanks for the sympathy and support; it is most appreciated. Since it has been nearly a month since I lost this hen and no others have been sick, I'm assuming it wasn't anything contagious--thank Heavens! I'd not had reason to worm very often, and being a more natural-minded person, had only used DE (food grade). Since our chickens free range most of the day, I'm just assuming that she ate a poisonous bug or something. Thanks to those who responded.