Please help me with my sick girl

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Oh, I am very sorry for your loss of Wewe so suddenly. She looked very seriously sick in the earlier pictures. I don’t think you did anything wrong with water or pills. When a chicken is dying, they may go through the violent seizure-like activity and neck twisting normally. It is quite startling and scary when you see it the first time. What I would do is to keep her body cold (wrapped in clean garbage bags in refrigerator or cooler,) and send it off to your state vet in Albuquerque tomorrow. That way you will know if she had something that might affect your other chickens. Call them in the morning early with questions, and the contact info is here in this list:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

Thank you. It was such an adrenaline rush in the few seconds that all happened, now just tears That was so disturbing. My husband will do the necropsy when he gets home (he’s a taxidermist), and I’m praying we find something we can identify. Thank you so much for your kind words and assistance. She was one of the first chickens I hatched and raised.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

I'm so sorry for your loss was her crop okay? it's so sad to lose a chicken. I lost a young pullet a few months ago and she died in my arms. was tremendously sad. I'm so sorry for your loss

Thank you for you kind words, I’m so sorry for your loss, as well Her crop was empty, I felt that right away. No odor. So confusing.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

I'm so sorry she died. You didn't do anything to cause it. What appeared to be convulsions was just her nervous system shutting down after she died. When we experience it for the first time, it's pretty scary. But your hen didn't die because of your handling her. It was obvious to you and me both that she was slipping away.

The question will remain, why? For a very young bird who had only begun to lay, it is most likely a reproductive problem and probably genetic. You can just go with that, or you can get your questions answered by having an agricultural lab do a necropsy. Or you or a family member might cut into her belly and see what you can see. Often a reproductive issue will be easy to see.

Thank you. They way her limp body literally flew backwards to the back of the crate and just slammed against the wall, then flapped around was so not expected and very frightening. I thought all my chickens would live long, full lives because they are so seemingly healthy and happy. Fantasy land, reality just checked in to what owning chickens looks like. My husband will perform the necropsy tonight. I hopes it obvious. Thank again so much

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I’m so sorry you lost your girl. You did right by her, kept her warm and loved—take heart in that you gave her such a wonderful life

 

[azygous]

I had a young hen this age die suddenly a few years ago. I cut into her and found several "hard boiled" eggs in her abdominal cavity, indicating she had died of internal laying. It's not known exactly what causes it, but the eggs progress a ways down the oviduct, but before getting to the shell gland, they reverse course and go back up and spill out of the oviduct and into the abdomen, accumulating there. If that's what happened in your hen's case, there will be no mistaking what your husband finds.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

I’m so sorry you lost your girl. You did right by her, kept her warm and loved—take heart in that you gave her such a wonderful life

Thank you so much for your kind words

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

I had a young hen this age die suddenly a few years ago. I cut into her and found several "hard boiled" eggs in her abdominal cavity, indicating she had died of internal laying. It's not know exactly what causes it, but the eggs progress a ways down the oviduct, but before getting to the shell gland, they reverse course and go back up and spill out of the oviduct and into the abdomen, accumulating there. If that's what happened in your hen's case, there will be no mistaking what your husband finds.

He is very curious to see, too. I will report back with the results. Makes me sad to think she could have been suffering for so long, her eyes have been half opened for quite awhile, I just thought it was her eyes. Another learning experience. Thank you

 

[Noellereagan]

Getting the sugar water into her is very crucial. Try to get some into her every half hour until she wakes up and becomes alert enough to be interested in food. Tempt her with some soft boiled egg.

Yes. Or honey works magic too. Has to be unprocessed.

 

[Noellereagan]

Oh you lost her. I'm so sorry. Been in those shoes and non chicken people can't understand they're so much more than "just a chicken". So sorry. Hugs. Fly high little one.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Oh you lost her. I'm so sorry. Been in those shoes and non chicken people can't understand they're so much more than "just a chicken". So sorry. Hugs. Fly high little one.

Thank you for your kind words.