WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HEN!

[IwuvMyChickens]

I don't know what happened! I put our 18 chickens up last night. My mom comes to let them out the next morning and one is crushed! But the thing is nothing was on top of her, and I don't even know what she could be crushed by! She was the smallest chicken in the flock but she was very tough and seemed so fine! I'm just so confused why she looks like she's been crushed but hasn't, and how to prevent it from happening to any others. I'm so upset I loved her dearly this was so sudden. If some one could plz tell me what happened google doesn't know I don't know if this helps but she had fresh feed, hay, and leftover fruits and veggies!! UPDATE: Thanks for all the help everyone. I think I have my answer now.

 

[sourland]

Do your chickens roost, or do they pile up in a corner of the coop? If the latter, she was probably on the bottom of the pile and overheated.

 

[nuthatched]

I'm sorry about that. What do you mean by crushed?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

How big is your coop? How much roosting space do they have? Chickens will crush other chickens given the right circumstance.

 

[IwuvMyChickens]

Do your chickens roost, or do they pile up in a corner of the coop? If the latter, she was probably on the bottom of the pile and overheated.

oh no that would be horrible. But why would she over heat I made sure they had water??? I think you are right tho. Thank you its nice to know the cause

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

The person I got my chickens from said it was common for larger chickens to smother the smaller ones by standing on them.
Passive aggressive chicken murder.
I keep forgetting how barbaric these adorable little animals are..
Im so sorry for your loss

 

[IwuvMyChickens]

The person I got my chickens from said it was common for larger chickens to smother the smaller ones by standing on them.
Passive aggressive chicken murder.

Oh. Wow that's very likely what happened. Thank you<3

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. How old are the chickens? Do they have a roost?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes this can happen if you have older chickens together with smaller ones. If they are not all the same age but are all young enough to still be sleeping huddled together on the floor rather than sleeping up on a roost. The little ones can get under the bigger ones and be unable to get out due to being smaller and weaker. The bigger ones mean no harm, they just don't realize the little one(s) are being crushed.

 

[IwuvMyChickens]

Yes this can happen if you have older chickens together with smaller ones. If they are not all the same age but are all young enough to still be sleeping huddled together on the floor rather than sleeping up on a roost. The little ones can get under the bigger ones and be unable to get out due to being smaller and weaker. The bigger ones mean no harm, they just don't realize the little one(s) are being crushed.

Oh wow. Thank you that might be what happened