The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Sudanpan on May 28, 2015, 07:41:00 pm

Title: Sudden hen death
Post by: Sudanpan on May 28, 2015, 07:41:00 pm
One of our maran hens died overnight/sometime today - I discovered her in the coop this afternoon. It's not unusual not to see them all first thing in the morning they seem to take turns in the coop to lay/sit so I don't tend to disturb the coop until later in the day.
The only thing of note about this hen is that over the last couple of months she became a bit of a loner - she never trundled with the crowd anymore and more often than not was in the other half of the paddock we have as their 'day quarter' to the rest of the flock (cockeral and 5 other hens) She had also not been laying for about 4 months - but eating and drinking ok and no signs of discomfort.
She was only a couple of years old. Quite a large bird and certainly the carcase was not skinny, feathers were nice and shiny.
Bit of a mystery
 ??? :(
Title: Re: Sudden hen death
Post by: Kimbo on May 28, 2015, 07:54:02 pm
so sorry for this. Ive nothing useful to say , just commiserations  :hug:
Title: Re: Sudden hen death
Post by: doganjo on May 28, 2015, 09:33:34 pm
If no other sign of illness I'd guess at heart problems - probably hasn't been feeling great for a  while then it just gave out last night.
Poor soul.  :'(
Title: Re: Sudden hen death
Post by: princesslayer on May 28, 2015, 11:29:46 pm
No advice, but we had this with one of our hens. No symptoms, no signs just found dead. Very odd!
Title: Re: Sudden hen death
Post by: Marches Farmer on May 30, 2015, 03:49:29 pm
Like most prey animals and birds they rarely show outward signs of being unwell.  As she'd stopped laying there could have been some internal problem such as a tumour. 
Title: Re: Sudden hen death
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on June 06, 2015, 02:15:37 pm
When I kept ducks one of them escaped a fox attack, but died from a heart attack a few months later, sudden it was. :(