Hen sudden death

[Chido]

This morning I heard a bit of commotion outside my window as I was getting ready to work, and I heard my brother-in-law go out to deal with the hens. He called me because something was wrong with on hen. She was fine a few minutes ago, and she ran away with the flock a few minutes prior because my BIL tossed some water at them to get them off some flower pots, but now this hen is laying down on the grown, neck twisted to one side, and just dead. She looked like a bird that broke its neck when crashing against a window. When he picked her up, some clear yellow liquid began to pour out of her beak.

This happened about 45 mins after dawn, and she was fine yesterday. Good wight, eating well, and acting normal. Sometimes she'd get into fights with the head hen, but not often. This time the head hen was fighting her according to my BIL, but the death was so sudden, within 5 mins of seeing the flock run away from the pots. I can't understand how she died, I mean, could it be a weird illness? None of the other hens seem sick, but I"ll check them tonight when I get home from work. Could the head hen have broken her neck? Both the dead hen and the head one are about 6-7 years old, so I've ruled out some diseases.

Can you guys help me understand what could've happened?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

What was the exact position of the body? Were the legs extended or hiked under her? A death that happens suddenly to an otherwise healthy chicken, is most likely an accidental traumatic injury to the neck or head. Or, it could also be due to a real condition called, sudden death.

When a chicken dies of sudden death, the legs are usually out stretched and the chicken is laying on it's back. With a traumatic injury to the head or neck, the chicken goes unconscious and dies on its side or in a sitting position.

They are fragile creatures and when frightened can injure themselves or have a heart attack resulting in sudden death. Also, when a chicken is recovering from an illness and is put in a position of stress, such as fighting with other chickens, they can die from sudden death.

My heart goes out to you, God Bless.

 

[Chido]

she was lying on her stomach, wings slightly spread open, but neck bent in a U shape to the side. She was still shaking a bit when I went to see her, but she was dead. she was fine 5 minutes before and my BIL saw the head hen attack her right before she died.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she was in "throes of death" when you found her. They frequently will twist their necks and spill out crop contents, and quiver as they are dying. I have had one die in my arms like that, from a gizzard impaction. The best way to find out what happened is to get a necropsy done on her freshly refrigerated body, by the state vet or a poultry lab. If that is not possible, you can do a necropsy yourself, to look at internal organs for anything unusual. If doing that, it helps to take pictures of the organs, open the gizzard and crop, and intestines. Look for internal laying in the abdomen, worms, and anything unusual. Sorry for your loss. Here is some contact info and info on necropsies:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-to-perform-necropsy-autopsy-on.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2015/06/chicken-health-poultry-management.html

 

[Chido]

I wish I could do the necropsy, but I'm at work and I think my BIL has already disposed of the body. We have taken our dead birds to get necropsies before at this place in san bernardino (forgot the name) but I don't think he'll do it this time. I"ll find out when I get home, sigh

I was planning to dworm all the birds this weekend, I'm gonna do it tonight instead just in case it was some parasite. I"ll do a physical exam to each one too and check for mites or anything unusual.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Hello Chido,
Yes, you probably did the necropsy at the U.C. Davis Lab here in San Bernardino. They are very affordable for fecal float exams ($10) too. If you end up doing a necropsy, you might have them run a fecal float to see if there is a heavy parasite load.

Again,

 

[kmisscluck]

I’m on Colorado and had one of my chickens die yesterday from sudden death I think. She was fine during the day but we found her last night dead and she was on her side with eyes open, and legs extended out straight. I’ve heard this has happened to a few other people who bought hens from the same place I did at the same age, is there a virus that would cause it?

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m on Colorado and had one of my chickens die yesterday from sudden death I think. She was fine during the day but we found her last night dead and she was on her side with eyes open, and legs extended out straight. I’ve heard this has happened to a few other people who bought hens from the same place I did at the same age, is there a virus that would cause it?

Chickens can suddenly drop dead from many different problems, such as heart failure, egg binding, crop or gizzard blockages, and many others. To get an idea what was wrong, it would be good to refrigerate her body in a plastic bag, and send it in to your state vet or nearest poultry lab for a necropsy. Some chickens will show signs of being ill by separating themselves, looking puffed up or having a droopy tail, or have trouble getting on or off the roost. We sometimes may not notice signs, but some do not have noticeable symptoms. Cold weather can be a time for these illnesses to happen. Sorry for your loss.