Sudden Death of Healthy Hen?

[want2know]

Yesterday evening at dusk went down to lock chickens in coop for the night and found one in the secure run laying dead, no injuries, no feathers lost, no sign of a struggle, and she seemed healthy earlier in the day. She was only a year and half old. Healthy weight, bright red comb, etc. I have heard that this can happen, but I am perplexed. How many out there in Backyard chicken land, have experienced this?

 

[sourland]

It's happened to me. Generally with apparently healthy but somewhat overweight birds. Possibly cardiac issues. Sorry for your loss. The good thing is that 'sudden death' is rarely from infectious entities.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yesterday evening at dusk went down to lock chickens in coop for the night and found one in the secure run laying dead, no injuries, no feathers lost, no sign of a struggle, and she seemed healthy earlier in the day. She was only a year and half old. Healthy weight, bright red comb, etc. I have heard that this can happen, but I am perplexed. How many out there in Backyard chicken land, have experienced this?

I'm sorry for your loss.
I have had them drop dead too.
Sometimes I've been able to take good guess of what happened by performing an informal necropsy. If you happen to still have the body, that is something to consider doing.