Hi!

I recently discovered that a YF Blue hen of mine died this morning. She had three eggs in the nest, (which I have fostered, but they were quite cold) and she seemed like a healthy bird. I am wondering if it may be egg binding? She was VERY irregular in laying. Her second egg coming 4 days after the first, and the third coming 5 days after the second. She is a red rung bird.

 

I found her in a funnny position. She had her beak clamped onto the wire, and she was lying on the bottom of the cage. Her wings were spread out, and her bottom half was kind of bought under her.

 

Any Ideas?

Did you feel to see if she had an egg in or near to her vent ?

Chances are high she died of eggbinding. Oftena hen in a nestbox isnt noticed being eggbound.

Cold weather doesnt help with egglaying.

Edited July 11, 201015 yr by KAZ

I didn't feel to see if she had an egg, I was only thinking about it later that it may have been egg-binding. Do you think it may have been because of her age? red ring bird, she would be 1-2 years old. I think about 1 and a couple months, I remember the breeder said June bred bird.

Age no. Cold weather breeding and eggbinding most likely. If a hen ever dies while breeding or nesting ALWAYS feel for an egg then you will know and not have to guess.

Edited July 11, 201015 yr by KAZ

This is a terrible way to lose hens, as by the time you realise there is a problem, it is usually too late. I have lost a few hens this way and it breaks my heart.

 

That is why it is so important to ensure they are in top shape to breed, and that they keep their condition up during the entire breeding cycle.