Rooster killed top hen in pecking order tonight!?!?!

[jk_vt]

Maybe it wasn't a fight at all. Maybe she was suffocating on a piece of fat and trying to get out from under him when she died? Bad timing on his part.

Another great possibility. Yes, they love the meat/fat and scarf I’d down very quickly so that is definitely a possible scenario. Thanks!

 

[aart]

Maybe she was suffocating on a piece of fat

That's my guess, gorging then choking.
Have seen flock members attack a dying chicken.

 

[jk_vt]

That's my guess, gorging then choking.
Have seen flock members attack a dying chicken.

Makes sense. Thanks

 

[jk_vt]

I see you are very new to chickens.

Do you feed treats daily or regularly?
Fatty Liver disease kills quick...without warning. I highly recommend getting a necropsy or at the very least opening up the bird yourself. You might be able to prevent more deaths.

I just not give them when we grill or cook out and have the leftover meat/fat

 

[McChooky]

Because she was flapping her wings hard which got the caretakers attention this doesn't appear to be a heart attack or sudden death situation.Why would his favorite hen be flapping her wings during mating?If he was actually mating her why weren't her wings pinned down?

 

[jk_vt]

Hey all thanks for all of the insight. Many of you said I should do a necropsy to know what exactly happened. Unfortunately I had already disposed of chicken so that is not an option. I guess I will never know but I will be keeping any eye on the rooster.

 

[jk_vt]

Because she was flapping her wings hard which got the caretakers attention this doesn't appear to be a heart attack or sudden death situation.Why would his favorite hen be flapping her wings during mating?If he was actually mating her why weren't her wings pinned down?

Great point…… I have seen the girls try to avoid or even fight or elude the mating, but never the wings flapping?

 

[aart]

Because she was flapping her wings hard which got the caretakers attention this doesn't appear to be a heart attack or sudden death situation.

Death throe flapping.
I had a bird die suddenly out in the run one morning while I was cleaning the coop.
I heard some squawking, then the flapping, which I recognized from dispatching numerous birds over the years.
I ran out and found my favorite hen dead on the ground and the rooster tugging at the dead birds comb and one hen pecking at the body.
Figured there was a ruckus and either a heart attack or she flew into the run wall and broke her neck.

 

[LaFleche]

Often there will be wing flapping when a chicken dies, this is a natural reaction of the nervous system and does not indicate the rooster had anything to do with it.

A hen of unknown, but rather advanced age fed with chunks of fat and meat can easily choke. Or have a heart attack, or die of fatty liver disease etc. There are a lot of possibilities.

The rooster mating (trying to mate) her seems to be just a coincidence to me.

 

[McChooky]

Death throe flapping.
I had a bird die suddenly out in the run one morning while I was cleaning the coop.
I heard some squawking, then the flapping, which I recognized from dispatching numerous birds over the years.
I ran out and found my favorite hen dead on the ground and the rooster tugging at the dead birds comb and one hen pecking at the body.
Figured there was a ruckus and either a heart attack or she flew into the run wall and broke her neck.

I don't think a rooster can breed without pinning the hens wings down.Thanks for the info!Good point!