Good morning,
I am eager to find out if other chicken owners believe that they may have lost a chicken due to fright from a thunderstorm? I live in Oklahoma, and we have had some big ones lately, to say the least. My hen was definitely in the henhouse last night. I have had some issues with predators recently, so I made sure that everyone was in the henhouse and tucked away for the night! We had a massive thunderstorm last night (one in several so far this week). This morning I found her dead on the floor of the henhouse. I had not noticed any health issues, other than mites which is an issue I have been working on. I actually sprayed 2 of my other hens with a clove oil/cottonseed mite-killer last night, but not this one. I had noticed after the thunderstorm 2 nights ago, her feathers were puffed out in the morning and she seemed very scared. There were no obvious signs of injury. I believe she may have suffered a heart attack due to fright. If it was a predator, then it must have happened during the 2 hours in the morning between their door opening and me coming out to check on things. I don't feel that is a typical time for predator attacks. I did lose a hen to a predator attack just 2 days ago. Feathers were all that was left of her.
Thanks for any comments.
I am eager to find out if other chicken owners believe that they may have lost a chicken due to fright from a thunderstorm? I live in Oklahoma, and we have had some big ones lately, to say the least. My hen was definitely in the henhouse last night. I have had some issues with predators recently, so I made sure that everyone was in the henhouse and tucked away for the night! We had a massive thunderstorm last night (one in several so far this week). This morning I found her dead on the floor of the henhouse. I had not noticed any health issues, other than mites which is an issue I have been working on. I actually sprayed 2 of my other hens with a clove oil/cottonseed mite-killer last night, but not this one. I had noticed after the thunderstorm 2 nights ago, her feathers were puffed out in the morning and she seemed very scared. There were no obvious signs of injury. I believe she may have suffered a heart attack due to fright. If it was a predator, then it must have happened during the 2 hours in the morning between their door opening and me coming out to check on things. I don't feel that is a typical time for predator attacks. I did lose a hen to a predator attack just 2 days ago. Feathers were all that was left of her.
Thanks for any comments.