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[grahamrhind]

I wondered if people if this forum have experienced a sudden (apparently causeless) death of a chicken, and may be could shed some light on what the cause might be.

 

I left the ladies this morning, all acting perfectly normally, walking around, eating, following me around etc.

 

This evening I came home, and just two are at home in the Eglu. We found Stevie dead and cold near to our new fence.

 

I don't like inspecting dead things too closely, but there's no sign of any damage by predators, just a couple of little feathers lying around which might be due to the start of decomposition. I can't think of a chicken disease, like mites or egg binding, killing a chicken that quickly (12 hours). I suppose she might have poisoned herself, choked on something or broke her neck on the fence (though none are/were frequent flyers and they have/had loads of space).

 

Any ideas what might have happened?

[clucker1]

Sorry to hear this. Has she been laying ok? If she had a purple tinged comb that could mean a heart problem.

[mullethunter]

Sorry to hear about Stevie. I'm afraid without looking a bit more closely it's very difficult to say. I would say though that I don't think feathers would fall out due to decomposition in less than 12 hours.

 

Chickens do have heart attacks sometimes, so it could have been that.

[Stagsbrae]

Thats so sad. I had the same yesterday, fine at 4.30pm and passed away at 7.15 while waiting to see the vet. For all the world, she looked fine but went of her legs and passed away very quickly. Still find it hard to believe and quite upset about it even now.

[Olly]

Sorry to hear this, but I'm afraid that although this doesn't happen too often, it's not uncommon in hens. If it was a predator there would be more than a few feathers. It's most likely a heart attack or seizure of some sort - as it's not usually practical to have a post mortem, we never know In these cases.

 

This is why you'll see advice on here to get three hens, not two, in case this happens. It's unlikely to be something that will affect your other two.

[Chickabee]

Sorry to hear of your loss. I know it's hard, but in the interest of your other girls it's best to give her a once over. Check for mites, lice. Enlarged abdomen, strange coloured faeces. Hard crop

[Lewis]

Sorry to hear it.

 

As others have said, it is difficult to know without checking her over. Chickens are very stoic animals and hide pain from predators. If she was an older hybrid she may have had reproductive or heart problems.

 

I would just keep a close eye on your other two hens.

[grahamrhind]

Thanks everybody. It was dark when we found her and, after an inspection, we buried her straight away, but we'll know the sort of things to look out for next time. There was no sign of mites or a distended abdomen. I don't know if she was still laying as I'm not usually here at the times they lay.

 

@Olly indeed, we did have three chickens for that reason. Down to two, now.

 

We've had 5 hens now, and three have died, all at under 2 or 2.5 years old. We've been getting our hens from a farmer who culls them when they're over their peak egg-laying period (at 15 months of age or thereabouts), and I was wondering whether its the breed - they've been bred to produce eggs and not to live long or be healthy. Stevie was the oldest remaining, but was only about 3 months older that the remaining two. I think maybe I should choose a different breed for the next bunch.

 

Fingers crossed for Nelsona and Plenk!

[Lewis]

We've had 5 hens now, and three have died, all at under 2 or 2.5 years old. We've been getting our hens from a farmer who culls them when they're over their peak egg-laying period (at 15 months of age or thereabouts), and I was wondering whether its the breed - they've been bred to produce eggs and not to live long or be healthy.

Is that 2 years after you've had them or when the chickens are 2 years old?

Hybrids (like typical ginger chickens) generally do get to 2-5 years old and pass quickly. As you say, they are bred to produce a lot of eggs quickly, rather than for longevity.

[grahamrhind]

2 year old. We get them at about 10-11 months old, and lose them 1-1.5 years later.

[Chickabee]

You could try a different breed. I just had to despatch a 5 year old Bluebelle today. However that is quite old for a hybrid. She hasn't laid for a while, but was a beautiful big fluffy party of my small flock. I've also had a few that haven't made it much past 2. As you can see from my list I have a very eclectic bunch, they give me much pleasure

 

Good luck in the future. Sonya

[Olly]

Standard hybrids often don't live much longer than 2- 2.5 years, they are bred to lay prolifically but this seems to wear them out.

 

Also, if these are ex farm birds they may have spent their first year in more stressful conditions than back garden hens and possibly been subject to artificial light to ensure daily laying.

[chickencam]

My light Sussex hybrid, who was around 3 years old has just died suddenly this morning. I heard a lot of flapping and looked out of the window thinking fox in the garden which happened a couple of times about 3 weeks ago. Saw nothing but went outside anyway and found her lying under the perch in the run. The other three were sitting on the perch boking loudly, I think that she had either a heart attack or seizure. She was in good health and no sign of anything external, good weight had been laying regularly. We sometimes just don't know what happens. A sad start to a morning

[Chickabee]

Sorry to hear this . I see from your signature that you've had one that lasted a really long time. I'm always counting mine. Sometimes one of the free rangers will just disappear for half a day. Finding a dead one is horrible. It has happened to me with one of the girls in the big run (a couple of times). Completely unexpected. Part of the hobby sadly

[chickencam]

Yes Bertha lived until she was 9 and I have a silver Sussex who is nearly 6 and still laying regularly. I think the hybrids with a Sussex mix are usually pretty robust which was why losing this one this morning was such a shock.

[Chickabee]

Just found my gold partridge silkie dead in the run, was putting everyone to bed . She was really ill a few months ago, but I managed somehow to revive her. No obvious signs of anything wrong postmortem. Feeling guilty though as I've been too busy to notice that she's not been bumbling around the garden today