Sudden death in 1 year old hen

DurbanGirl

Chirping
11 Years
Apr 16, 2012
42
15
99
Portland, OR
This morning I went to let my hens out into the backyard and found my 1 year old dark brahma hen dead in our chicken coop. I saw her an hour earlier and she was eating and drinking - and even took a dust bath. She seemed fine and her poo looked normal. An hour later - I found her laying on the floor of the run with some clear liquid coming from her beak - I think she had just died minutes before.

Any ideas what would cause this? She was out in the backyard with her 2 sisters the night before - they seem fine so far. There is no poison in our yard - although I'm not completely sure about poisonous plants. They mostly eat the flowers off my fuchsias! We had a hot spell this last week - but the temperature has dropped back down in the last day or 2 - and they all seemed fine in the heat.

She was such a sweet girl - I've had chickens die suddenly before with no prior symptoms - but they were all over the age of 10 - so that was probably just due to old age.

Anybody have any insight?
 
Wow, she went pretty fast. Sorry for your loss. I used to have two dark brahma girls. I really don't have a clue what killed her. When deaths occur unexpectedly I have learned to try to do a necropsy on the chicken and take pictures of the organs. Many people here on BYC are knowledgable on necropsies, and sometimes can help you to find an answer. Kidney disease and coccidiosis are two things you can pick up in a necropsy, plus other illnesses.
 
We already buried her - not sure I have the heart to dig her up for the necropsy. I sure miss her funny little face - she always looked so grumpy - but she was the sweetest girl. I'm grateful we got to spoil her for a year - but she should have been with us for many more. It's just so bizarre...
 
Same thing happened to my 12 month old light sussex roo. Alive and healthy one minute, dead the next. He was so lovely, and verile. I checked him over and he was so clean, it completely baffled me. I thought maybe a heart attack. His father died as suddenly just months later. Perhaps it's genetic. So sorry for your loss.
 

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