Well Summer suddenly taken ill

[lolliescott]

Hi, I'm new to this site but have visited often over the past two years for tips and advice. I'm hoping someone can shed some light on what might have caused my chicken to get Ill and pass away in the space of three hours.

Summer was a 9 month old well summer and had been fit as a fiddle when I came home from work this evening, I let her out of their pen and in to the garden as I do every day, I went out an hour ago and she was scrunched up away from the other girls on her own, her neck twisted right round and her eyes shut. I picked her up and noticed she had a rattling noise from her chest, she sneezed a few times which I hadn't noticed she had a cold before, her nose wasn't running or anything like that. her legs were very hot and she wouldn't open her eyes much.

She had a full crop and had been absolutely fine when I let her out, she died within an hour of new finding her and 2 hours since she was let out.

Does anyone have any idea what this might have been, I can only think she might have eaten something poisonous and I'm concerned for my other hens.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[luvmigrls]

How long was her crop sour? Was she eating/pooping? I have found that when their crop is sour they seclude themselves a couple days before noticed. Mine didn't show sneezing or rattling noise with has to do with SC. Sounds like something hit pretty quick. Have you checked around for moldy/toxic stuff she could have gotten into?

 

[lolliescott]

Hi luvmigirls, thanks for the reply.
She was eating, pooping and laying. Her crop wasn't overly full just the days food I think. I've had another chicken that's had a blocked crop previously and the chicken wasn't herself so we managed to get to that and sort it in time.
I've checked the Garden and there's nothing although I have found a gap in to the neighbours and we're not sure if she got in there and maybe they have slug pellets or some poison down. We've secured this gap.
The sneezing only happened when I picked her up, I hadn't noticed it previously. It's just so peculiar, there were no other symptoms
I've been out with all the other girls this morning and they seem fine, eating drinking etc.
I've had some excellent advice and documents sent through to me via BYC so fingers crossed this will be a one off.