Broody Cochin died suddenly

[HonkABC]

My 7-month old white Cochin with 5 chicks suddenly did last night and left behind her chicks, and she was abnormally light recently. She was lethargic last night. Lately, she did not bite us when we tried to touch her chicks. Her comb and wattles were getting lighter, but I think that is normal for a hen with chicks. I thought they were just normal broody behavior, and I can't pin down when the weight loss started. No birds have any symptoms, and there was no sign of injuries. We were keeping her in our house at night, because my parents said it was too cold outside for chicks. She ate an old apple yesterday that fell out of a tree, and a bunch of apple petals. She normally watch what her chicks eat (chick food from Purina) inside, and layer feed outside. She only drinks water, and her poop was normal. When she was inside at night, her box was made of plastic with wood shavings in it. If anyone can help me with what happened, thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Was she broody very long before you let her sit on the eggs? Did she have any lice or mites on her? Has she been wormed recently? Broodies have lowered metabolism, and their crops slow down, which helps since they don’t eat much. Perhaps she was in a weakened condition before she sat on eggs. I used to have way too many hens go broody, and sometimes I had to break the same ones 2 or 3 times each spring and summer. I usually take broodies off the nest in morning and in evening to give them a chance to eat and drink. If they don’t I place a tuna can in front of them with some crumbles or pellets. Did you get the chicks under a heat source? I hope that your chicks make it.

 

[Hensofthehill]

My 7-month old white Cochin with 5 chicks suddenly did last night and left behind her chicks, and she was abnormally light recently. She was lethargic last night. Lately, she did not bite us when we tried to touch her chicks. Her comb and wattles were getting lighter, but I think that is normal for a hen with chicks. I thought they were just normal broody behavior, and I can't pin down when the weight loss started. No birds have any symptoms, and there was no sign of injuries. We were keeping her in our house at night, because my parents said it was too cold outside for chicks. She ate an old apple yesterday that fell out of a tree, and a bunch of apple petals. She normally watch what her chicks eat (chick food from Purina) inside, and layer feed outside. She only drinks water, and her poop was normal. When she was inside at night, her box was made of plastic with wood shavings in it. If anyone can help me with what happened, thank you.

Sorry for your loss, how are chicks doing?

 

[HonkABC]

The chicks are doing well!