[Kitchen Cottage]

Ones been off colour all week, eating but fluffed up and just standing there.  I didn't know because I don't see them in daylight except at weekends but a friend does.  When I saw her yesterday morning I fed her honey sultana's an egg and oats... which she ate a bit off.  I put her in a cat basket last night deep in straw but within sight and sound of other roosting hens.  This morning, she's dead. 

Not egg bound, crop was fine, just something overran her.

Ex bat of about 6 months.  Other seem fine, just put it up to experience?

I've cleaned all the cages again.

[landroverroy]

Wher there's livestock - there's deadstock. It happens. Like you say, I would put it to experience. You did all you could, as it's not worth going to the vet with one hen. So unless the others start dying off, which is unlikely after 6 months, I wouldn't worry.

[doganjo]

Happens with ex bats I'm afraid - they are in a cocooned environment for all their lives till you rescue them at about 18 months - she may have been older.  Then they can succumb to any bug that's going.

[in the hills]

 ..... and it happens to other poultry too, not just the ex batts.