MaggieRose2001
Songster
Well, This isn't an emergency - my chicken just died. But I would like to understand why and what happened and what I could have done.
7:30 - 9:30 - I let all the chickens out to free range while I clean their coop, refresh feed and water and so forth. Dottie is out scratching and pecking with the rest of the chickens having a great time. After a couple hours I put them all back in the run.
2:30 - I go out to give them a treat of mealworms - Dottie is scratching and pecking and enjoying her afternoon treat.
4:30 - I go out to check on everyone and Dottie is laying in the middle of the run not moving. Her waddles are pink. I pick her up and she is as limp as can be but still alive. I run inside with her to inspect and see what needs to be done - she dies within 5 minutes. It was like she was just hanging on until I could hold her.
WHY??? No signs of illness. No respiratory issues. She wasn't egg bound.
Dottie was my most adventurist chicken. When she was a baby she flew out of the brooder and into my microwave when I had accidentally left the door open. This past winter she had injured her leg. I brought her inside to try to let it heal - but she still limped slightly. It was when she was inside that we formed a deep bond. She was our absolute favorite chicken. She would fly up on our outstretched arm. She would nap with us on our couch.
Anyway - I digress. My question is - could she have flown into something and injured herself - could that cause a death within 2 hrs? There isn't a whole lot in the run. There is a ladder leading up to a perch as well as a ladder on the wall used as a perch. That's it.
Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated. I am so stumped and heartbroken! Thank you.
7:30 - 9:30 - I let all the chickens out to free range while I clean their coop, refresh feed and water and so forth. Dottie is out scratching and pecking with the rest of the chickens having a great time. After a couple hours I put them all back in the run.
2:30 - I go out to give them a treat of mealworms - Dottie is scratching and pecking and enjoying her afternoon treat.
4:30 - I go out to check on everyone and Dottie is laying in the middle of the run not moving. Her waddles are pink. I pick her up and she is as limp as can be but still alive. I run inside with her to inspect and see what needs to be done - she dies within 5 minutes. It was like she was just hanging on until I could hold her.
WHY??? No signs of illness. No respiratory issues. She wasn't egg bound.
Dottie was my most adventurist chicken. When she was a baby she flew out of the brooder and into my microwave when I had accidentally left the door open. This past winter she had injured her leg. I brought her inside to try to let it heal - but she still limped slightly. It was when she was inside that we formed a deep bond. She was our absolute favorite chicken. She would fly up on our outstretched arm. She would nap with us on our couch.
Anyway - I digress. My question is - could she have flown into something and injured herself - could that cause a death within 2 hrs? There isn't a whole lot in the run. There is a ladder leading up to a perch as well as a ladder on the wall used as a perch. That's it.
Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated. I am so stumped and heartbroken! Thank you.
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