Prolapse?

[Ruby Rogue]

Not an emergency as the hen is deceased,

A bit of history: the summer before last i suspected she had water belly and attempted to drain it unsuccessfully. She didn't seem to be bothered, so I just left it alone.

So today, I find her in the coop, dead, beneath the roost and her intestines or something are protruding from her belly. My daughter said that she was acting fine but just didn't want to leave the coop yesterday.
She was a 3 year old hen, as far as I know she was just coming back in to lay. She's always the most enthusiastic treat taker and even though her belly was huge and pretty near dragging on the ground for the last year and a half, she didn't act ill.

Any insight as to what may have happened? I'm not ruling out a predator but it wouldn't be my first guess, we have a great LGD.
I didn't lift around to examine her well, but it looks like the intestines are coming out of the belly, not the vent...

I did get a pic.

 

[coach723]

It's very hard to say with certainty, but she may have been cannibalized after she died. It's not uncommon for others to do that to a flock mate that has died. Without a necropsy, it's hard to say why she may have died. The large belly often indicates a reproductive problem, but if she was laying then that seems less likely. Also could have been a large hernia that may have ruptured, but without seeing her before, it's hard to say. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Thank you.