Mysterious death
Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 2:55 pm
I set a hen a couple weeks ago. A Wheaten Marans, on 9 eggs. I have a sort of closet thing in the coop, 6 ft long x 18 in wide, 18 high, slats on it for light and a door. I have probably set 15 broods in there and had no problem. Food water and grit with them, and they set and the other ones don't bother them. Cardboard box 6 in high with hay in it for a nest.
Everything just fine, proceeding as usual. Last night when I checked her water, she was off the nest, just on the edge, but it had been warm and some times they do that. Doing chores this morning, she is dead. On her side off the nest. No blood. No sign of a struggle. She and the eggs were cold. Pitched the eggs, they were all there.
I did have a fox snake get a hen a couple years ago, but there were signs of squeezing and broken missing eggs. That is why I wont set them on the floor any more.
I put her out on the edge of the bush a mile away, my belief in recycling. I did not cut her open. Just thinking about it now, I did not feel her crop either and I should have.
Anyone have any idea? Parasites? No sign of mites or anything, no distress or going down hill that I could notice, but might have missed it as she was sitting. Oh, and my wife said she had given her a piece of fruit four days ago, which I don't do as a rule, gave some to another setting hen which seems fine.
Everything just fine, proceeding as usual. Last night when I checked her water, she was off the nest, just on the edge, but it had been warm and some times they do that. Doing chores this morning, she is dead. On her side off the nest. No blood. No sign of a struggle. She and the eggs were cold. Pitched the eggs, they were all there.
I did have a fox snake get a hen a couple years ago, but there were signs of squeezing and broken missing eggs. That is why I wont set them on the floor any more.
I put her out on the edge of the bush a mile away, my belief in recycling. I did not cut her open. Just thinking about it now, I did not feel her crop either and I should have.
Anyone have any idea? Parasites? No sign of mites or anything, no distress or going down hill that I could notice, but might have missed it as she was sitting. Oh, and my wife said she had given her a piece of fruit four days ago, which I don't do as a rule, gave some to another setting hen which seems fine.