My hen has died :(

ive just come in from seeing my hens i have 9 altogether one being a pekin and she has died, she was outside all stiff and i have no idea why, i feel so guilty i dont know what ive done wrong she was only a year old.
my OH has checked to see if her neck was broke but it wasnt and she looked healthy her feathers were shiny etc my OH said he could feel her chest bone (i dont know if this is normal or not coz ive checked the other hens and i can feel theres too)

so now im so worried my other hens might be ill, they were eating and running around the garden apart from one who was in the coop and that one if my buff hen she looks ok ive checked her over.

Dont feel any guilt because unfortunately chickens often die for no good reason.They can be healthy one day and be dead the next-they really do go downhill everso quickly. I had one which was fine one day-the next her comb and wattle had shrunk/gone pale then the day after i found her dead on the nest.

thankyou for that at least i know its not just my hen because ive seen know sign of illness but im still a novice at this as only had hens for 1 and 1/2 years, just feel that maybe i should of checked her this morning but i was running late so just opened the coop and didnt check like i normaly do,
and seeing her like that gave me a fright.

i know i should relize they die at some point i just hope my other hens are ok

I had that happen to me on a number of occasions. Chickens are very good at hiding signs of illness, and unfortunately, most times there is not anything you can do. Take comfort in the fact she had a good life with you x

I agree with Steve. Unfortunately it is just one of those things

thankyou im starting to feel as bit better now xx

I'm sorry. Check the poo of your others to see if there are any problems but it probably just one of those things that you can't help.

Helen

thanks Helen stupid question but what should i be looking out for in the poo?

Awww, Hannah, my sympathies, hens are such characters - not surprised you are so upset. As others have said, hens can and do go downhill very quickly, part and parcel of being a prey animal - hide any illness so that a predator doesn't pick them out.

Chicken can be predisposed to heart attacks, it could be something like that? Keep a close eye on your other girls for any signs of illness but chances are it was just one of those things.

Sweet dreams little hen.

I was going to post a link but it's a poultry forum so not allowed. Do a search for chicken poo and it's on an allotment forum. Very informative.

Helen