So sad...I just lost one of my two chickens

[chickenchickee]

I just went outside to check on my two girls and my big, beautiful black Australorp Lucy was laying on her back, dead. I had not been home all day but previous to today she had been active, laying her beautiful eggs like usual, eating and doing everything normally. She even layed today. We have had days and days of rain. She didn't seem to mind the rain and went out and free ranged in it if given the opportunity. I did notice some white on her feathers around her bottom but no signs of unusual poop. However, today in her run, there is quite a bit of white in her poop, more than usual. Now I am worried about my French Copper Marans, her friend Ethel. I am a real novice when it comes to illness. I have had the two of them for a year with no problems. Please help if anything I have said gives a hint of what she may have died from. I don't want to lose my other girl!! Thanks - Julie

 

[Silkie Sue]

I'm sorry i can't solve this one but i just wanted to give you a

i am sorry for your loss

 

[Miyashi]

The only thing I can really say is....
I had a few of those massive cornish chickens. We thought we would try the meat thing...yeah no...they all died of "old age" or heart attacks...save 1.
I came home one day to a bird who had somehow gotten stuck on his backside and he couldn't flip over, judging by his color, I thought all the blood rushed to his head and that's what killed him. I had another that almost had that happen, but thankfully, I got home in time to save Captain Curiosity. Bubbles wasn't so lucky. I'm sure part of their problem was, they had massive flat backs and hardly any flexibility to begin with. Those poor birds. They are engineered in such a frightening way. Mine were all sweet as pie...but anyway...BACK TO THE ISSUE!
Like I said, don't know if that could have been what happened with her...somehow flipped herself and just couldn't flip back over for some reason...or if it is an illness.
I hope you figure it out. I'm very sorry about your loss...I'm very attached to my birds...I cry every time one of them even seems like it might have a problem.

 

[chickenchickee]

I know, I never thought I would actually get attached to my hens, but I did. I just want to know if I did something wrong or if she just died. I don't want to repeat a mistake, at least maybe I can learn from this. But...sometimes there may not be an answer. She was lying all stretched out on her back, so maybe you are right.

 

[Miyashi]

What I've learned is do your best and stay informed. Where I live, the vets don't really care about chickens. They have that "It's just a chicken" mentality.
This is a good place to be, for sure. I hope I'm right or someone else has an answer for you...I hate not knowing things, I'm sure you do too.
If you were actually doing something wrong, you'd want to know.
Best of luck to you and your birds in the future!

 

[nuttyredhead]

Im so sorry..

 

[Willie647]

Sorry about your bird. I too am waaaaay to attached to my birds. I really think all we can do is try to learn as much as possible because we get almost no help from vets.

 

[Miyashi]

Quote:
The sad thing is...I'm sure most of us are ready to hand over whatever amount of money if we could...but they don't even give you the time of day.