What do you do when a chicken passes away?

[HoofyLoo]

One of my ex battery hens died today. She'd seemed off colour for a week and weighed very little. Her vent was fine, my chooks are regularly wormed, have a good diet, fresh water etc. I rescued her a year ago and probably only ever had a handful of eggs when she first arrived.
When I took her out of the run today I held her by her legs and liquid came running out of her beak. Is this normal? Although the other hens seem in good health and I'm almost certain it's old age that's seen my chook off, I want to be sure. Does this sound like it could be a disease or something?
I've given the coop and run it's usual poo picking clean (and spotted nothing unusual). Would you give it a more thorough scrub?

It's strange. I have mixed feelings about her going. I do feel very sad but believe she had a great year with me. Considering she'd been written off by her farmer she grew her feathers back and enjoyed a bit of freedom in the sunshine at least.



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[elizajay]

It is sad when a hen dies, but at least you gave her a happy end to her life and asked nothing of her. You can be happy about that. It could have been a problem with her crop, but I have no experience of that.

[Scarlet]

They don't usually live very long once they have completely stopped laying. I think her time was probably up but she would have enjoyed this last year enormously.

[Nicos]

When any of my chooks die ( not had many die) I always keep a very close eye on the others to see if they stay in good health over the next few days.

It doesn't do any harm giving the place a good spring clean though especially if you are concerned it may be something contagious ...at least it gives you peace of mind!

It's always a concern when you don't know exactly why they died....but at least you gave her a lovely year of life!

[HoofyLoo]

Do you think it sounds like sour crop? She was lifeless, underweight, lethargic and had liquid dribbling out of her beak towards the end. There was no smell though.... How do I prevent this happening again?!


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[Knight of Albion]

One of my ex battery hens died today. She'd seemed off colour for a week and weighed very little. Her vent was fine, my chooks are regularly wormed, have a good diet, fresh water etc. I rescued her a year ago and probably only ever had a handful of eggs when she first arrived.
When I took her out of the run today I held her by her legs and liquid came running out of her beak. Is this normal? Although the other hens seem in good health and I'm almost certain it's old age that's seen my chook off, I want to be sure. Does this sound like it could be a disease or something?
I've given the coop and run it's usual poo picking clean (and spotted nothing unusual). Would you give it a more thorough scrub?

It's strange. I have mixed feelings about her going. I do feel very sad but believe she had a great year with me. Considering she'd been written off by her farmer she grew her feathers back and enjoyed a bit of freedom in the sunshine at least.

Very sorry to hear that, but you gave the dear soul the chance to know happiness and freedom, and to experience the milk of human kindness. Plus you spared her the ordeal of a violent death in the slaughterhouse....

[Scarlet]

Do you think it sounds like sour crop? She was lifeless, underweight, lethargic and had liquid dribbling out of her beak towards the end. There was no smell though.... How do I prevent this happening again?!

Sour crop can be a side effect of another illness. As the bird is now gone you will never know. If you suspect sour crop, check the crop early in the morning prior to access of food - it should feel empty if she's healthy. If it was sour crop her breath would smell!
Check your other chickens, are they all eating, moving around? Any huddled with ruffled feathers? Pick them up, check their weight, are they just skin and bone, are their vents clean, look for lice, mites, when were they wormed last? You can worm 4 times a year if you are keeping them on the same ground continuously.
As Nicos suggest, give their whole area a good clean, top up their water with some apple cider vinegar and garlic and keep an eye on their behavior, that's all you can do.

[HoofyLoo]

Thank you for the replies. There was no odour from her at all. Maybe it was just old age. The other three are doing just fine. Making lots of noise and letting me know when they want their treat!


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[Nicos]

Glad for the update...I was wondering how you were getting on