Questions, first chicken death here....

[ValerieLovesChickens]

So we've managed to keep them alive thru the heat. Went out to do bedtime check, and my favorite female was dead and stiff. She was just fine 4 hours ago.

We did remove the Roo today, as the girls are still not even laying eggs and he had been trying to mount them. However, this Roo has also been her companion, protector, closest flockmate I would say, since they were babies. Could she have died in just a day, from losing him and stress?

No blood, no sign of struggle, and the other girls are acting scared and huddled in the corner.

Any input please? I'm tired and crying, she was my favorite. Did we do this?

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

I'm not sure that loneliness would be the cause of this death (not saying it can't cause deaths in general however) it just seems really quick? Did you see her drink water today? How has the poop been? How hot is it where they're inside (the coop) could it have been heat perhaps? Keep an eye on the other chicks to see their behavior (tomorrow of course, as it's nighttime now)

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

I'm not sure that loneliness would be the cause of this death (not saying it can't cause deaths in general however) it just seems really quick? Did you see her drink water today? How has the poop been? How hot is it where they're inside (the coop) could it have been heat perhaps? Keep an eye on the other chicks to see their behavior (tomorrow of course, as it's nighttime now)

Everything was normal with her and the rest of them today, aside from removing the roo. They are spoiled with the coop, we put in our ancient window unit for night time to cool it down to 80 degrees an hour before dark, and maintain that temp until bedtime check, before we go to sleep ourselves. We have had heat indexes nearly 2 weeks now well over 100 degrees. I just cant help thinking, we possibly broke her heart today. She always slept and napped with her head under the roo. Two of the other girls had taken on that job tonight. I just went back out to check on our 3 girls and they are making like a quiet cry kinda of chirp/bock. They all wanted to be held, so I did and tried to comfort them. Now they are all struggling to get their heads under each other. Should I leave them be, or bring them in to the big brooder for the night so they feel safer? Put the roo back in? Or wait until they do reach maturity?

 

[cmom]

How old are the birds? Could have been a natural cause such as a heart attack. I have found birds dead with no apparent reason. They seem fine and a bit later I have found a dead bird. It happens. Good luck...

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

How old are the birds? Could have been a natural cause such as a heart attack. I have found birds dead with no apparent reason. They seem fine and a bit later I have found a dead bird. It happens. Good luck...

They are just over 4 months old now. From what my research tells me, she was the "Queen" to the Rooster. We pulled him out yesterday (and now know we should not have done that, the girls would have been just fine). It was most likely stress heart attack, sudden death. Result of removing him and breaking the bonded pair, and the alpha hen finally able to pick at her with no intervention from the Roo. Our fault, listening to others instead of doing my own research. Never again.... hard life lessons learned.
Trying to keep him alive now, we put him back with the girls, then took her outside and let him see and check her out. Couldn't stand to see him frantic searching for her, calling for 3 hours straight. He finally started that funky coo/cry and took the other girls into the coop. He still calls for her once in awhile, but is settling down. Hopefully he will survive our tragic mistake.

 

[hayley3]

I would go with heat before I go with a broken heart.
Are they panting? Do any have dirty butts?
I'm doing the same thing with an air conditioner because my garage (their coop) is so friggin hot I can't bear to walk in it until it begins to get shaded in the evening. But 2 hours before they go to bed, I start the window AC unit and with two fans blowing it around manage to make it very nice and cool. I send mine to the front yard so they can get under a tree all day long and dunk any that are panting in a baby pool.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

No, it wasn't heat. Their a/c was on, no pasty butt. No panting, or wings held out. They were all 100% ok at 9pm, and she was dead at midnight. Plenty of cool water in the run and coop at all times, plenty of shade. Thanks for replying though, I appreciate it.

He is also now calling and calling for her, hope he makes it. I found she was "queen" in the flock, and without him, the alpha probably picked on her and she stressed and died from a heart attack. They were a bonded pair since age day 3, and never should have been separated.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm sorry for her loss, it's always hard, and only a chick. It wasn't a broken heart, but it was something, and only a necropsy will answer 'why'.
Chickens will act normal until they just can't, and especially a heart problem could be very fast.
No wounds anywhere? No toxic substances available? Electricity?
Acting scared sounds like you had a predator involved, so look hard again to make sure there's nothing there.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Sometimes a bird will fly into a wall and break her neck, or have a fatal head injury. Not often, but sometimes. Another possibility.
Mary

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

I'm sorry for her loss, it's always hard, and only a chick. It wasn't a broken heart, but it was something, and only a necropsy will answer 'why'.
Chickens will act normal until they just can't, and especially a heart problem could be very fast.
No wounds anywhere? No toxic substances available? Electricity?
Acting scared sounds like you had a predator involved, so look hard again to make sure there's nothing there.
Mary

We are quite sure it was the Alpha hen, she was always jealous of this queen. The roo always checked the alpha and protected the queen. Our vet is sure, this what happened. He also pulled out the chicken behaviors book he had, and had us read over it. After we explained the situation to him. Our run and coop are like fort lnox. We triple checked everything. The vet did discover a few peck marks, and a little scab under her eye we missed in the dark.