Chicken death

[SuzyB]

Im devasted, one of my ex batts has died in the night and Ive no idea why. We've had them almost 3 weeks now, she was fine yesterday morning, feeding from our hands as normal etc, then in the afternoon she put herself to bed in a nesting box. I thought it was strange as she normally lays inbetween 10-11am so went to check on her, she looked at me and left the box, went outside again. Bit later on she was back there, but this time just looked at me wearily as if she'd just woken up.

This morning I let them out and only two greeted me, Ginger was still in the nesting box, obviously died in the night.

Im just worried its something Ive either done or not done, or that its something that could be passed on to the other two, how can I know? The other two seem to be fine. Or is it like my dad says, just one of those things, perhaps thats all she had in her and at least she had a nice ending to her life.

Funny how you get attached to them so quickly

[dozey1]

i am sorry tohear your news, they are a worry aren't they.. I am sure it is nothing yu have done it was proably just to much for her after a life in a cage. They do just pass away sometimes. Hope the other 2 remain fine.

[Snadger]

At least she died peacefully through the night. One of mine did exactly the same a few months ago.
Apparently it's quite common as the poor things have spent the first part of their lives as laying machines and it can just be too much for some I presume.
She'd had a few weeks of freedom away from the battery cage and been well looked after so you'd done everything you could.

[chuckles]

HI, Sorry to hear the news . I can't offer a reasonable explaination and chances are there prob wasn't one. I was once told by the guy we got ours from that THE ONLY THING MORE SUICIDAL THAN A CHICKEN IS A SHEEP. They seem to judt drop for no apparent reason.

Anyway please don't think it was anything you did or didn't do !.

regards
Debbie

[MaureenHall]

Well done for rescuing her and giving her a taste of being able to do chickeny things before she died. It's very sad when it happens, but maybe the stress of the battery cage and then the freedom was just a little bit too much for her. You did nothing wrong at all, it was just her time to go to the other chicken place xxxx

[Nicos]

Aww...that's sad.

Glad she had a lovely home and loving mum for her last few weeks

xx

[Flummery]

Sorry to hear that. Yes, you do get attached in such a short time. It's not you - the other two are fine. The ex-battery hens have had pretty much all the life sucked out of them by the dreadful regime in there. You can give them so much, but if their time has come, then you can't do anything. She died peacefully and with dignity - that wouldn't have been her fate if she'd not been rescued.

[Hans Mum]

sorry to hear your news, but take solice from the fact that you gave her a few weeks of the good life and she learnt how to be a proper chicken from you, at least she had that with you

[SuzyB]

Thank for the kind comments. I do take solace in that she seemed to be really happy - she was definitely the best digger out of the three of them, had a whale of a time digging up the borders and she loved courgettes!

[Suechooks]

Exactly the same happened to one of mine about a week after they were released. The care they have before you get them is non-existent and she's had those weeks learning to do proper chickeny things and she died in peace and dignity, knowing that humans CAN be kind and caring.

[di]

Sorry Suzy!Like the others have said,you gave her a happy end & I'm sure there was nothing you could have done to prevent it.xx

[matthew2riches]

It is actually common for ex Batts to just die all of a sudden. That's why I would advise anyone that gets attached quickly to purchase good healthy birds from a reputable supplier.

But hey! At least she had a good end of life and wasn't put into a can of dog food!

[Birdie Wife]

I agree with all that's been said already - unless there's any other indications to the contrary then the most likely thing is her heart has just given out, which is in no way your fault. Are you going to get another couple? Just thinking that the minimum nuber should be three really, but it's always easier introducing two together than one alone.

[bluemoon]

Really sorry to hear this, but at least she found out that she loved digging and eating courgettes, thats a really special thing you did for her.

[SuzyB]

Yes, will definitely get another couple, its such a gratifying experience watching them come back to health, get their feathers back and enjoy being outside - its a pleasure to do it!