I went to the coop yesterday morning and found my young (26 week) black Cochin dead. I am certain there was not a predator as she had no marks and it had snowed and there were no tracks around the coop.
When I checked her she seemed to be engorged at the vent, and her vent area was bloody, but not pecked at near as I can tell.
I am not sure she had started laying as of yet as I have never seen her in the laying box.
Is it possible for a young hen to prolapse on the first egg? I did no exploration beyond looking at her externally. All the other hens seem fine by the way. She seemed healthy right up until I lost her.
Any ideas, I had kept her as I was hoping she might go broody for me in the spring and do some hatching for me. She was a nice young hen. Now I guess I am down to my one Orpington. I understand the likely hood of my RIR going broody is remote.
Maybe I will look for a couple of silkies
When I checked her she seemed to be engorged at the vent, and her vent area was bloody, but not pecked at near as I can tell.
I am not sure she had started laying as of yet as I have never seen her in the laying box.
Is it possible for a young hen to prolapse on the first egg? I did no exploration beyond looking at her externally. All the other hens seem fine by the way. She seemed healthy right up until I lost her.
Any ideas, I had kept her as I was hoping she might go broody for me in the spring and do some hatching for me. She was a nice young hen. Now I guess I am down to my one Orpington. I understand the likely hood of my RIR going broody is remote.
Maybe I will look for a couple of silkies
