One of My Chickens Died

[schristopher]

If you look at my profile, you will see I have two chickens, that is until today.

I looked this morning and both of my chickens were walking around in the yard. This afternoon, I looked into the back yard and Ruby, my Buff Orpington chicken was laying in the yard. When I went back there, I realized she was dead. It's like she was just walking and then died.

Can chickens just die? I mean, she wasn't attacked by anything. I don't have anything in the yard that would hurt them. The only things I feed my chickens is chicken feed, and fruit sometimes.

Another question is, will a chicken do ok by itself?

I am really sad about this because my grandkids really love the chickens.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

You should get another chicken and put the dead carcass in the fridge and ship it off for a necropsy. Might of been a heart attack.

http://www.clemson.edu/public/lph/lab/

 

[Abriana]

I'm very sorry about your girl.

It is often hard to tell why they died, if they are just found dead. It could have been any number of things.

Unfortunately, no. A single chicken will not do very well on its own. They are flock animals and need other chickens. I recommend another adult hen or two (but you have to be very careful about buying adult birds, they can come with diseases). In the meantime, put a mirror out there for her so that she doesn't feel all alone.

 

[Chickenaddition]

Very sorry. Unfortunately animals can simply be one moment fine and then next moment dead. Has happened to a cat just walking down the hallway with me. Usually it's a heart attack. However if you are deeply curious as suggested necropsy.

Your chicken will definitely need another chicken around. They are flock animals. I hope you and your surviving chicken find a new chicken to be in your flock.

 

[The Phantom]

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. In your state it should be very easy to refrigerate the body and take her in or ship overnight to a state poultry lab for a necropsy if you want a diagnosis. There are many people with backyard chickens who may want to rehome an extra chicken if you post a thread about needing a hen for an only one. When you do find one, look them over for lice and mites, any noisy breathing or eyes that don’t look bright, have discharge or nasal drainage. There are some state threads on BYC that might be more successful at finding a new hen. Here is link to contact a state poultry lab vet:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm