Lost one of our hens yesterday

[SherriS]

Our 4 1/2 year old Rhode Island Red was found dead last evening. She was lying on the ground in the run. I examined her this morning and she actually has a large hole beneath her cloaca where it appears part of her intestine is coming out. Is this from disease or another chicken pecking at her and killing her? She was fine yesterday morning, running around with the others. I can tell from my cameras this happened sometime before noon yesterday. I did not find her until around 7 pm. I don’t have evidence that anything (predator) got in. Please help! First chicken I have lost and I’m so sad!!

 

[Abrahen Lincoln]

Fishercats can fit through the smallest of spaces. Is there a hole that one could have gotten through?

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I'm sorry for your loss.
How many flockmates did she have?
How large is their run and coop?

Could you post a picture of the wound?

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you see any others pecking her vent area? Vent pecking can lead to an injury such as that. I would examine some vents today or look for any feather picking, and spend some time observing for any peckers. Sometimes they will peck each other on the roost in the evenings. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Abrahen Lincoln]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[SherriS]

I'm sorry for your loss.
How many flockmates did she have?
How large is their run and coop?

Could you post a picture of the wound?

We have 6 other hens. 1 Jersey giant, 2 speckled Sussex, 2 Americaunas, 1 cream legbar. Coop is 4 ft by 6 ft with 4 roosts (though they typically roost together), run is 20ft by 12 ft. We have a “ jail” inside for the Jersey giant who goes broody about every 6 weeks. will post a picture shortly. I still have her body.
We do have “peckers” who tend to peck our smallest one often. But the rhode island red didn’t get pecked often. She was usually a protecter. Although my Jersey giant can be known to “peck” the others, she was actually in jail at the time this happened. So I know it wasn’t her.

 

[SherriS]

Did you see any others pecking her vent area? Vent pecking can lead to an injury such as that. I would examine some vents today or look for any feather picking, and spend some time observing for any peckers. Sometimes they will peck each other on the roost in the evenings. Sorry for your loss.

I will check today. I have one hen that is pretty aggressive. Didn’t realize this could happen at night. Thank you!

 

[SherriS]

We have 6 other hens. 1 Jersey giant, 2 speckled Sussex, 2 Americaunas, 1 cream legbar. Coop is 4 ft by 6 ft with 4 roosts (though they typically roost together), run is 20ft by 12 ft. We have a “ jail” inside for the Jersey giant who goes broody about every 6 weeks. will post a picture shortly. I still have her body.
We do have “peckers” who tend to peck our smallest one often. But the rhode island red didn’t get pecked often. She was usually a protecter. Although my Jersey giant can be known to “peck” the others, she was actually in jail at the time this happened. So I know it wasn’t her.

These pictures are pretty gross. Sorry.

 

[SherriS]

These pictures are pretty gross. Sorry.

Maybe there was a red spot and it got pecked? There was no blood in the run so hard to understand.

 

[Twilia]

I am sorry you have had to go through this.
Were there any "parasites" on the hen when you found her?
*Graphic* I have heard where maggots can burrow through a live animal & typically come out around the vent area...

Or unfortunately, there are a lot of bizarre things that happen...sometimes unexplainable. Or, the chickens got bored.
But to prevent things like this some 'steaders add hanging toys or distractions to their areas.