Postmortem...

[xshoshin]

Sad day...I found my boss lady, follow me everywhere, personality plus Velcro dead this morning in the coop. While not surprised, it makes me very sad. Velcro was a barred rock, 6 years old going on 7. She had recently molted and did not seem to be bouncing back. Despite extra nutritional support, she lost weight and after a couple weeks she began losing strength. Pale comb. She ate enthusiastically, but there was something off about her style...it was like her vision was fading...she couldn’t seem to see the food well to peck it up. Her weakness worsened to the point that the past few days she couldn’t get up to the roost or down the ladder any more. If she did attempt it, it was a full body plant instead of landing on her feet. And today Velcro’s gone. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas about why she died...do these symptoms sound like anything specific to you?

 

[Junochick]

I am sorry for your loss, I believe old age creeped up on her.

 

[junebuggena]

That's a pretty good age for a hatchery Barred Rock. Most likely was just a case of old age.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi

I'm so sorry that you lost your special girl.
If you feel that her sight was not right, you are probably correct. You must know this hen well after so many years in your care and your intuition will most likely be correct. Do you know if she was actually managing to eat plenty. Birds will sometimes pretend to eat when they are sick, so as not to show weakness or peck and miss if sight is failing.
It sounds like she has wasted away, either through not getting enough to eat or more likely an internal tumour or possibly internal parasites. The only way to find out would be to either send her for a professional necropsy or open her up yourself (if you do, take photos of what you find)....I appreciate that Velcro was a pet and you may not be able to face that option.

Try to remember all the good times with her and console yourself that she had a much longer and happier life than many chickens.

 

[rebrascora]

I'm afraid I don't buy "old age" as a diagnosis..... being old does not kill. Illness or disease kills.

 

[junebuggena]

Old age does kill. Nothing lives forever. Eventually, things will just stop working.

 

[xshoshin]

Thanks for your kind responses...
I did not do a necropsy, I just buried her. I’ll never know for sure, but she was cared for and loved to the very end. She had excellent nutrition and I hand fed her daily. I suppose it may not have been enough, but she did eat well. She was her usual intrusive self right up until the last two weeks and she did seem to just fade. Reminded me of my grandma, god rest her...