Pullet Sudden Death - Choke?

[Goats N Cluckers]

My favorite Polish pullet, 8 weeks old and the one in my avatar, died suddenly yesterday. She was perfectly healthy and I had just been cuddling her moments before, when we realized another hen was missing. I tossed some scratch to try to entice the hen to come out of hiding (she's been broody). My son gave the Polish pullet a little scratch in the coop at 6:13pm so she wouldn't feel left out. I went to double check the coop for the missing hen at 6:18 and found Lola dead where she had been pecking at the scratch. I checked the times on the camera. I tried doing CPR, not knowing if it even works on a chicken, but wasn't able to establish an airway. She'd had a beakful of scratch and a piece of straw far back in her beak. There was plenty of fresh water available not 5 feet away from where she died.

Is CPR or Heimlich possible on a chicken, and if so can anyone point me to reliable sources to learn how?

 

[BastyPutt]

Hello

Fellow polish lover here, and I am sorry - this must be hard.

The only way to know for certain is to send her off for necropsy. It is usually about $50 for shipping and the report.

Unlikely that she choked. Chickens can take down things that would make grown adults blush - even at this age.

I would guess a natural cause. Heart attack, etc.

If you want to post your location here, and need some help, I'd be happy to help look for a necropsy site.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Did you find the other hen who was missing? How hot was it in your coop or run? It would be hard to know exactly what happened to your pullet without having your state vet lab perform a necropsy. Heat, dehydration, or a heart attack might be possibilities. Sometimes symptoms noticed will point to an illness or condition. Was her crop full and hard? Here is a link for most state vets to contact if you want a necropsy:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[Goats N Cluckers]

Hello

Fellow polish lover here, and I am sorry - this must be hard.

The only way to know for certain is to send her off for necropsy. It is usually about $50 for shipping and the report.

Unlikely that she choked. Chickens can take down things that would make grown adults blush - even at this age.

I would guess a natural cause. Heart attack, etc.

If you want to post your location here, and need some help, I'd be happy to help look for a necropsy site.

Thank you. My son already buried her. I'm west of Atlanta, GA.

I've never had a chicken choke before, but because it happened while she was eating, it was a first thought.

 

[Goats N Cluckers]

@BastyPutt - I meant to mention that Lola was my first Polish ever. Somebody advertised her on FB and she was the same age (1wk) as some other breeds of chicks I had in the brooder already. I got her because she was was so cute and fell in love with her because of her personality. However, she was pretty much blind once her crest grew in. She could see a bit down at her feet but that was all. I was just looking at her yesterday to see where I could cut some feathers to give her better vision. Do you have any pointers? I have more Polish eggs in the incubator and a 2wk old cockerel. These were supposed to be friends to keep Lola company.

 

[BastyPutt]

@BastyPutt - I meant to mention that Lola was my first Polish ever. Somebody advertised her on FB and she was the same age (1wk) as some other breeds of chicks I had in the brooder already. I got her because she was was so cute and fell in love with her because of her personality. However, she was pretty much blind once her crest grew in. She could see a bit down at her feet but that was all. I was just looking at her yesterday to see where I could cut some feathers to give her better vision. Do you have any pointers? I have more Polish eggs in the incubator and a 2wk old cockerel. These were supposed to be friends to keep Lola company.

Oh sure - we allow the majority of our laying flock to breed and hatch as they please, but we do specifically breed and keep most of the Polish together to keep their lines pure here.

Recently, my 10 year old son won the state fair here with his polish cockerel, and we just have developed an itch to win again (he subsequently sold that cockerel out of state for a price that almost made me pass out)

Anyway above all, the Polish is my favorite chicken, and has been for awhile. They have the best temperament.

Were you thinking that she was blind Becuase of the feathers growing over her eyes? That would be pretty fast at such a young age, but possible. Yes, you can trim them. I wrap the birds in a towel for restraint and cut up just a bit, never close to the base of the feather where it can bleed. Definitely a two person job.

What else were you wondering?

 

[Goats N Cluckers]

Oh sure - we allow the majority of our laying flock to breed and hatch as they please, but we do specifically breed and keep most of the Polish together to keep their lines pure here.

Recently, my 10 year old son won the state fair here with his polish cockerel, and we just have developed an itch to win again (he subsequently sold that cockerel out of state for a price that almost made me pass out)

Anyway above all, the Polish is my favorite chicken, and has been for awhile. They have the best temperament.

Were you thinking that she was blind Becuase of the feathers growing over her eyes? That would be pretty fast at such a young age, but possible. Yes, you can trim them. I wrap the birds in a towel for restraint and cut up just a bit, never close to the base of the feather where it can bleed. Definitely a two person job.

What else were you wondering?

I won't be keeping any roos from the eggs. The one cockerel will be finding a new coop as soon as possible.

Lola seemed to not be able to see up, ahead or to the side, only down at her feet. Her mop was really thick. In the avatar pic it had just started. Lately I couldn't see her eyes unless I dug for them. We have some wood shavings outside the coop door and a few other places. Whenever she would step on the wood shavings looking for the coop, she'd flap up to what she thought was the doorway and end up in a shrub or just go splat. She would never get on the roost with the rest at night, we had to pick her up and put her on it. She'd stay there all night. At least she could see food and bugs down at her feet. LOL

No other concerns right now, but thank you so much!