I found my favourite hen dead [sad]

[SirVixofVixHall]

DH had let them out into the run this morning, I think she must have already been dead, but he was in a rush, so he hadn't watched them come out, just opened the house door. I went to open the run to let them into the garden earlier and she was lying dead in a nest box. Eyes closed. She was a 7 year old bantam and I just adored her. She looked fine yesterday, but now I'm worried that I may have missed something. She had got a bit thin, but she's been her normal perky self. She found hot weather hard as she had lung damage from infections, so i am concerned that she may have got squashed into the box by hen 2. Is it common for hens to just die suddenly?

[SirVixofVixHall]

here she is just a few days ago.

[SophieJenkins]

IME it is fairly common yes and she was a good age

You must be so upset.

[SophieJenkins]

Oh she is lovely what a beautiful coat!

[SirVixofVixHall]

She was such a pretty hen. A silver spangled Hamburg. Her spots shone green, they really are nice looking hens.I have another the same breed and a mad looking ginger cockerel who is a bearded crested bantam.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Could her heart have just given out then? The other two look completely fine.

[SophieJenkins]

Oh I never knew they would glow like that, it sounds like the same sort of green you get on a copper black maran, or similar?

We just lost our 4-5yo CBM, not sure what exactly was wrong but she was poorly looking for a few days and I took her to be put to sleep as she was bleeding.

I think as someone once said on here, they have a rather fragile grip on this mortal coil. It could have been old age - that is certainly a good age for a chooky.

I'm so sorry. Have you buried her? We put ours quite deep and under a slab, to stop the fox finding her.

The other two haven't laid since she died. I wonder if they are just wondering where she is.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Yes DH has buried her near our old doggie. She seemed as though she would go on for years more, our vet has been expressing shock that she was still alive, as she'd been near death's door a few times with nasty respiratory things, but each time recovered, although her lungs weren't as good as before. She was a tough chickie! I don't know what copper black marans look like, but it was like the blue sheen you get on a magpie's black feathers, but green. so in some lights the spots just look black but in others will have the green shimmer. She was a very clever hen, and very busy and friendly. They don't go broody ever, so although they've had chicks, they have been hatched by friend's hens not by mine! (Too posh to sit).
Is it a good age then? I know bantams are longer lived than standard hens, I think they can get to 14 or so.

[SunnyBaudelaire]

what a lovely looking hen!
I am afraid that they do pass away unexpectedly...

[SophieJenkins]

Oh, I didn't realise that about bantams. Perhaps it wasn't to be expected then I really honestly don't know.

I know what you mean about some chickens just being wonderful and friendly - I had one used to talk to me - perhaps I imagined it. But I'm sure she did.

Some you just love so much.

[SophieJenkins]

How funny that they won't sit on their own eggs!

[SirVixofVixHall]

Yes, they don't generally go broody, they are a funny breed. Clever though.