[sneezer]

Sorry to hear about Pearl she was a beauty

[New shoot]

Sorry to hear about Pearl Lindeggs    I've had a few die suddenly overnight and its never nice 

[Lindeggs]

3.2 Kg [corrected] is big for a pullet lindeggs.  This is more the weight I would expect of a 2 year plus hen.  Suggests the heart attack might not be far wide of the mark.  Fatty heart disease doesn't necessarily produce noticable symptoms and apparently healthy birds can just drop dead.  I've seen it happen with two hens and both times apparently happy healthy birds one minute suddenly keeled over and went through their death throes the next.

HF

But she's not fat!  Just big-boned!   

Seriously though, I will check with the breeder what weight he would expect them to be at this age.  (My other Light Sussex was 3.4kg when I last weighed her!) 

I met their mother when I picked them up from the breeder and she was massive.  I've heard NZ and Australian strains of LS are much bigger than their European counterparts so this size may be genetically normal for them.  I wonder if they are also genetically predisposed to heart attacks!

I don't know what I could do if they are overweight.  The whole flock has a balanced layer ration available ad-lib and free ranges on grass 24 hours a day.  They rarely get scraps or treats.

Thanks for the ideas though, I will definitely look into it further.

[joyfull]

there are two strains of light sussex over here and one strain (the older more traditional strain) are quite a bit bigger than the more modern strain.

[bantam novice]

 
So sorry to hear about Pearl, Lindeggs.  I quite agree that you have nothing to blame yourself for. 

[LittleRedHen]

I am sorry for your loss.  You must be gutted.     Wish there was something I could do to help you.