Our place is fully fenced so the chickens have been wandering around the yard. I've been putting them up at night. Last night one got out of its pen, apparently, and was dead this morning. We haven't lost any chickens yet. We've had them since March. Not even a chick has died. It was dead next to my dog kennels where I did have them trying to roost when I went out late to put them up. Anyway, there was no blood or anything. The chickens had gone into the kennel this one was dead next to and we didn't have any problems. So I don't think the dog bit it. Nothing out of the ordinary. Any ideas? It wasn't a predator because my coop is right next to a kennel with 6 hound dogs. Even if one did attempt to come close, the whole neighborhood would know about it with the barking.
There are some chickens that can die of a heart attack when they get scared. If a predator spooked it, it could have died. It also could have eaten something that poisoned it.
