Speckle's Dead :-(

[CarolineW]

Last night, we said goodnight to 3 perfectly healthy hens. This morning, they were still perfectly healthy. Then we heard Speckle making her "I'm laying an egg" call (usually an hour before or after laying an egg - not usually during). Ten minutes later, she was dead.

We examined her - no trace of anything wrong. She just looks like a perfectly healthy bird who just died for no apparent reason. She's a young bird - in fact, yesterday was the first time she laid a full sized egg. Could that be linked?

Does anyone have any ideas why she might have died? I'm concerned for the other 2 now - who also look perfectly healthy.

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh dear, what a shame. It might be worth a phone call to the vet to ask for advice re a post-mortem - it would show up any cause for concern for the other girls.

[chicken slave]

Oh so sorry to here about your bird.

[minskey]

oh I'm so sorry, very sad.............

[roadkill]

very sorry to hear about ur loss , I would also have a vet look at the bird

[Nicos]

Oh dear..bet that was a bit of a shock!

...does make you wonder what happened .

[kirsty b]

For something that sudden I would probably want it checked out. Sorry about that hun.

[-pat m]

As with everyone I am sorry to hear that.
Over the past few years I have had two die apparently at the point of laying eggs for the first time or after only one or two eggs - very distressing.
I can only re-assure you that on no occasion was anything wrong with the other chickens and they carried on fine –from memory when I checked the first time this happened to me I read that - Mortality is increased during, broodyness and egg laying - Chickens are very delicate creatures, we all know that -once poorly they either recover or pass away very quickly – All I would recommend if you don’t go for the vet option is ensure there is absolutely no parasites on your birds look closely at the base of feathers and vents and maintain good hygine.


Pat

[CarolineW]

Thanks, everyone. Pat, we'll do that. We did check around the vent, but not the base of the feathers - so we'll do that now. My husband's not willing to go to the vet for a post mortem. In fairness to him, he did say when we got the hens that it was on the condition no vets were involved, as he wasn't willing to pay yet more vet bills So I suppose I can't argue.

Don't know how I'm going to break it to DD when she gets home from school (she's 5). I just pray to God that it's a similar case to yours, Pat, and that the other 2 stay fine. At least Speckle was my favourite, not hers. Now if anything happened to Ballery ...

I'm going to have to be strong and act as though it's all a natural part of life and nothing to be upset about when DD gets home, so can I admit here to having shed a little tear?

[shirlthegirl43]

... so can I admit here to having shed a little tear?

Course you can, have a (hug) to help you through it. Kids seem to accept pet death quite well - our younger son's chook was the one we lost and he was quite happy to get a replacement which was rapidly given the same name (mind you he is 13)

[Flummery]

They can die unexpectedly I believe - from a heart attack for instance. There's also something that I think is called 'flip-over syndrome' - something like that. It is simply a way of explaining the inexplicable - that they sometimes die for no apparent cause. The main thing is, that it isn't anyting you've done and it won't be passed to the other birds, I'm sure.

[-pat m]

My children were 2 & 4 when it first happened and I can assure you that the following day after they found out - all was well with them - in their minds they still have chickens as adults we go over the loss a lot more than them - she will be fine and (although it won't feel like it today) it is a good lesson to learn in the family environment
and it really is a natural part of life.
Pat

[HayleyB]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[MaureenHall]

Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear that [[[[[[[[[[[[[[hugs]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
It might have been a congenital heart defect of some sort, it happens in humans and other animals so who's to say it doesn't happen in poultry? Who knows, but I hope your other girls are fine

[di]

So sorry Caroline.How awful for you.
All the best for when your daughter gets home.I know they're all so different,but if it's any consolation,Daisy has always handled death far better than I expect her to...she has an uncontrollable hour or so,where you think she's never going to get over it,but then adjusts really quickly after.
Big hugs for both now & after school!(x))