Sudden death of EE (easter egger) hen

[Boccom]

my oldest chicken was 7 or 8 years but alot die around 3 years

 

[birdsrfun]

I had a Barred Rock die on Memorial Day last year. She was seemingly perfectly healthy. I found her on her back and stretched out. You didn’t mention her body position when you found her. From what I’ve read when I did my research, finding a bird on it’s back and stretched out is a sign of heart attack. Does this describe how you found your hen?

 

[Boccom]

I had a Barred Rock die on Memorial Day last year. She was seemingly perfectly healthy. I found her on her back and stretched out. You didn’t mention her body position when you found her. From what I’ve read when I did my research, finding a bird on it’s back and stretched out is a sign of heart attack. Does this describe how you found your hen?

heart attacks are common if they see a predator and freak out

 

[Mrs. K]

Reports of occasional long lived birds, is not indicative of a realistic expectation.

I think you have a great deal of sensibilities, and if you are still mourning a bird that dies 2 years ago, this might not be a good hobby for you.

Personally, I keep a flock. Birds come and go into my flock. If I lose a bird that I like real well, often times I will get another bird of that breed. If I get a long lived bird, I celebrate, but am realistic enough, the older she gets, the more apt she is to die. However, I love to add new chicks, and me and mine just keep this as the circle of life.

You may want to consider another animal to keep as a pet, if you are so distressed by a natural fact of life.

Mrs K

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with Boccon - a lot of mine die around the 3 year mark.

 

[birdsrfun]

I’ve lost three hatchery hens all around three years of age.

 

[Folly's place]

My oldest hens lived to be ten, just three birds out of at least several hundred, over 25+ years. Many die between three and four, of different 'internal problems', and predators happen too. Maybe there are breed types that have an average age of eight, but I don't know who they are; game types, perhaps, would be my best guess.
Mary

 

[Boccom]

Reports of occasional long lived birds, is not indicative of a realistic expectation.

I think you have a great deal of sensibilities, and if you are still mourning a bird that dies 2 years ago, this might not be a good hobby for you.


Mrs K

do you have a problem with people mourning their chickens Im still mourning mine from 3 years ago

 

[aart]

Flew out of the coop this morning, ran/walked around just fine, pecking and looking for grain and then within 3 hours just laying on the ground dead.

Had this happen last summer, just 10 minutes after letting them out, I heard the 'death flap'. Think she either freaked during a pecking order dispute and flew into the run wall breaking her neck or had heart attack. I was too bummed to investigate very far, she was a favorite. Livestock/Deadstock.

 

[Mrs. K]

Good Lord, no I don't have a problem with people mourning their chickens, I , myself still miss some of my favorites, others not so much. However, what I meant, some people suffer terrible when they loose one, have tremendous sensibilities, and feel so bad that having chickens is more grief than joy.

For them, I sometimes think there would be better hobbies.

Mrs K