Two hens - Same Sypmptoms, vet clueless -- please, PLEASE help.

You're truly a sweet heart. The necropsy showed lesions in the lungs and abrasions in her liver. They fear that she died from tuberculosis, and that Agatha is suffering from the same untreatable death sentence. It explains the 2 dead wild birds I've found in my yard. I'm devastated... My soil has been tainted. You can't get rid of that kind of thing. I that bacteria can't be cleaned out.... I'd basically have to burn the whole place down...You can't clean your land, and I have 7 babies inside with their adoptive mommy that will be headed out there in about 2-3 weeks...and still, I have to face that there are probably still more wild birds out there over my home carrying it... I hate this so much, but I think I have to put Agatha down either today or tomorrow to spare her a long painful death. I don't think I could ever do it myself, so I'll be looking at $50 for the vet to do it, and another $50 for the necropsy... Then another $40 to verify that her tissue samples are infected with TB. The vet mentioned "depopulation" of my flock if it's positive. And I can't... No... I couldn't possibly. It kept me up all night last night. I just am not thinking clearly now to know how to proceed.

What devastation. I am so sorry, I can't imagine what you're going through with your flock right now. What an emotional event.

How long does it live in the soil?

I've read that it can live for years in the soil... Their symptoms totally fit it, aside from their bit of sour crop.
Now, time to prepare myself for euthanasia and send out for a full necropsy and biopsy of Agatha's tissues to get the final conclusion on if this is in fact the monster we're facing. My poor little creatures...
It compounds so much... Even the compost we were making for our spring garden this year with their droppings needs to be destroyed if it's TB...

Holy Toledo! That's something I never could have thought of! TB?!? Just... wow!

You have my deep sympathy! Let me do some hunting. I seem to remember mention of something that could be added to soil to get rid of pathogens... LOL, I'm really good at wandering and hunting the internet, I've been told! I may find you some alternatives.

With some digging, I discovered that enriched soil seldom has any negative bacteria or viruses living in it. Turns out that the good bacteria and fungi in the soil get rid of the bad germs. It's called bioremediation when it's done on purpose to clean up areas from everything from oil spills to other toxic spills to deadly germs. I even learned that streptomycin, the first medicine found to kill TB, was found growing in the soil.
So, it's quite possible that deliberate soil enrichment on your property would make it safe for your featherbabies!

I had two pretty good links I was going to add, but added them before I'd signed back in, and the page didn't save it after I signed in. If you wish, I could try to hunt them down again.

I just wanted to say I'm so very sorry for your loss and all that you've been through. I can't even imagine. Hang in there. *hugs*

fascinating!!! I'll do some research on this! I've never heard of such a thing. Thank you so much! Hopefully this will save some lives! Still waiting on the necropsy results from Agatha to come back. They said it could take a week after her death, unless they need to do more testing after that... ugh... I hate the thought of it all. Poor thing. The state wouldn't allow for any burials from either Ethel or Agatha. So looks like a memorial stone is due.

Did you hear back on the necropsy for Agatha? And, I hope you found some helpful information on soil remediation that you can use to keep your featherbabies safe. Otherwise, it looks like they might have to stay on concrete or wire their whole lives, or risk the same fate. How terrible for you, and them.

The compost you made should be safe, as it should be populated with lots of good bacteria that fight and kill bad bacteria, especially if you turned and stirred it regularly to keep it aerated. I meant to mention that earlier, but forgot - I do tend to get distracted, especially since I'm on strong pain meds right now. *sigh*