[Lost in France]

I've just found one of my hens dead. She was lying in the sun and looked as though she was sunbathing but, she was dead. There are no marks on her and the others are all fine. She had a trace of blood round her beak, couldn't bring myself to look in her mouth but I think that's where it has come from. She was a healthy bird and fine this morning, laying regularly and always "busy". I think she was aged between 4-5 years old as not sure exactly how old when I bought her about 4 years ago. She moved over here with us so we're extra sad, only 2 of our first 5 left now.

Any ideas why she died? The others all appear fine although the cockerel seems quiet and was sitting next to her, maybe he's just sad too like us. :cry:

Judi

[Aunt Sally]

Oh... that's sad Judi  :cry:

No way to tell what she died of but she was a grand age  

[poultrygeist]

Sorry to hear Judi.

Sounds like she's being missed by her cockerel but I'm sure he'll soon get distracted.

Rob

[Lost in France]

She's now safely tucked away at the top of the garden with her pals but I'm sure Buster is searching for her, she was one of his favourites. Glam was "mum" to Tut and Neff two of our peacocks who arrived still in their shells and she taught them the ways of henworld.  I wonder if they'll notice her missing as they were away when she died but do spend a lot of their time in the hen run.

Aunt Sally...what is the usual life span of a bantam hen?

Judi

[NormandyMary]

Sorry for your loss Judi. Its a shock when they just go and you dont know why.

Big hugs,

Mary.

[Hawkins]

so sorry to hear of your loss.

[Jellyhead]

:cry: so sorry Judi, big hugs from down south
XX
Carina

[Aunt Sally]

Aunt Sally...what is the usual life span of a bantam hen?

No idea Judi, sorry  

[mother hen]

Hi Judi,

Sorry to hear about your loss, think average life span of a bantom is 7 - 8 years but probably quite normal for hens to live much less or more than this.  Had a lovely young rabbit did this, vet said it was probably a stroke. As long as other hens remain healthy I wouldnt worry too much. At least she had a lovely sunny life and didnt suffer  

[chookiepaula]

so sorry about that.. bantams vary greatly between breeds. I would be very happy with a healthy banty much over 6. But saying that hens do sometimes just die like that for what appears to be no reason. With blood around her mouth/nose you cannot discount a respiratory problem, this could have been disease or obstruction. Very hard to tell and if healthy in the morning seems unlikely to be disease. Soory to be scientific - im a veterinary nurse!
Once again so sorry x

[Aunt Sally]

I'm just hazarding a guess here but birds, due to their naturally high blood pressure, are more subject to cerebral hemorrhage than other types of aminal.  That might tie in with the blood from the nose  :idea:

[Lost in France]

Thank you everyone. I'm going to believe that she died quickly whilst sunbathing with her pals. She was a real sweetie and we'll miss her but, I suppose, for the others it means.... extra grapes and more space in the henhouse??  

Judi

[ck2day]

Judi,  
Sorry to hear about your hen, I found one in the same state this morning when I went to let them out. She didn't look too good yesterday but seemed to perk up last night but didn't make it till morning.

Don't feel too bad about your hen, 5 years is a good life for her, especially is she was an ex-batt like mine was