[Nails]

Good Morning, Hubby went up to let the girls out this morning and one was dead in the nesting box, didn't look like there was anything visably wrong with her, she didn't even feel under weight. But as i don't know how old these chooks are as they are all ex batts, i suppose it's to be expected, lets just hope it's not a bad omen for the new year.

[grumpydad]

not a good start to the year, hope it improves for you.

[sarah f]

awwwwwwww im so sorry

[joyfull]

hugs from here xxx

[karlooben]

thats not a good start to the year  hugs from me to , but with ex batts that can happen . i had one within a month or so of rescuing them that just died she was perfectly happy and healthy from what i could tell at least she had a taste of freedom 

[Caralou]

I'm really sorry nails  I bet she had a happy little life with you and hubby xxx

[Nails]

I think she did, one thing bothering me tho, i have had them since March 08 and although we have lost 3 in that time, we fed them Mealworms yesterday for the first time ever, would that have had anything to do with her death?

[New shoot]

Unlikely unless you gave them loads.  They are very dry and could potentially cause problems if her crop was really really stuffed with them. You'd notice that quite quickly after feeding as she would be in distress.

If she roosted in the nest box and just went,  it's likely she just died in her sleep, so don't worry.  Ex-bats are prone to this even when quite young.

Sorry you lost her - it's rotten and you do start thinking what ifs.....She had a lovely life for nearly 2 years so I think you should be proud you gave her that.

[Nails]

Your right New shoot, you start running over everything you may have done different, i made a mistake with the year it should have said March 09, but even so, i do think she lived her retirement out luxury, i did the best i could for her and all the others that we have.
But i beat myself up everytime we lose one, doesn't get any easier does it?

[New shoot]

Nope     

Your little ex-bat still had a good retirement and did a darn sight better than if you hadn't rescued her.  I feel the same way whenever I lose a chick.  My lot are my pets not just egg layers and I reserve the right to get soppy over them when they go to that great henhouse in the sky.

We'll get branded as members of the fluffy chick brigade but who cares   

[Nails]

I really don't think we are the only 2 in the fluffy chick brigade New Shoot. I only get upset over my Ex Batts, we have many others and i am never sorry, when hubby puts a chook on the table for the pot, mind you they are the Cockerals, and nobody seems to want them, so we have to do something with them.

[Jeanette]

I have ex bats and you really grow to love them. Unfortunatly i have had a couple that has died in the night and like yours they were very happy scratching around the day before. I keep telling myself that if people didnt have them they would have died much earlyer  without knowing what it is like to enjoy themselves. They were very happy chocks.
  I am sending you hugs.

[Nails]

Your right Jeanette, without us guys saving them and giving them even a few weeks enjoyment, they would all be in chooky heaven.

[yorkie19]

I am quite a new chicken keeper, we got 4 in March.  I have just joined this forum as I had the same thing last night and found a dead hen in the roosting box this morning.  If you don't know what caused the death do you need to get a post mortem?   

[Nails]

I haven't bothered Yorkie, as when i got my ex batts i didn't know how old any of them were.  I am sure that someone else will be along shortly, to advise.
so sorry about your loss, it is heart breaking when they just go, especially when you don't know why. hugs to you.