sudden death of pullet

[Chick pea]

My 7 month old cream legbar, Effie, suddenly died today. She was fine this morning & had just started growing her combe over the past two weeks. She was a healthy active hen who went round with her best pal, a wyandotte, hatched at the same time. I just can't believe it! My husband helped me check her over & there was no signs of wounds or anything. She was just lying there on her side, dead! How can a healthy hen die so young? It's heartbreaking & I know her best friend will miss her too. They tended to keep themselves separate from the big girls most of the time as they hadn't matured yet. So sad!

 

[FlyHigher]

Sorry for you loss.
Could it be cocci? It can cause sudden death without obvious symptoms.

 

[Chick pea]

Hi, thanks for responding. From what I've read, cocci causes sudden death in chicks under 12 weeks. My cream legbar was almost 7 months. She had just started getiing her comb & her blue/green earlobes had come in. I think I read somewhere that pullets on point of lay can sometimes die like this. It makes me think it could be linked with hormones. From her position on the ground I think she may have convulsed before dying. She was a fit & healthy, living a good life so it is such a shock for her to go like that.