Do livers become damaged by respiratory problems?

[Anime2lover]

This year we had about half our flock come down with a bad case of respiratory issues, we had to do them up and medicate the rest (their done with that for the most part now.) What we found odd was that when we got to removing the liviers of the culled chickens. They looked fine, but when they were handled, they turned to mush. What I want to know is, is that normal for this kinda sickness. We've never had this happen before.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have any photos of what the livers looked like?

 

[Anime2lover]

Do you have any photos of what the livers looked like?

No, didnt take any, or think to. As for what it looked like at first, they look like a typical healthy chicken liver until their handled.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No, didnt take any, or think to. As for what it looked like at first, they look like a typical healthy chicken liver until their handled.

Were the birds fatty in the abdomen or around the organs?
Typically when I think of a liver falling apart when handled, Fatty Liver Disease comes to mind.
Sometimes birds can suffer from more than one illness or condition.

 

[Anime2lover]

Were the birds fatty in the abdomen or around the organs?
Typically when I think of a liver falling apart when handled, Fatty Liver Disease comes to mind.
Sometimes birds can suffer from more than one illness or condition.

Only one had any conciderable amount of fat.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Only one had any conciderable amount of fat.

I don't know then
If you have any more like that, your best bet for the correct answer would be to get some testing - a vet or agriculture department may be able to do that for you.

 

[Anime2lover]

I don't know then
If you have any more like that, your best bet for the correct answer would be to get some testing - a vet or agriculture department may be able to do that for you.

I'll try to keep that in mind if we see it in our next ones to cull. (Still have 5 more to do up)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'll try to keep that in mind if we see it in our next ones to cull. (Still have 5 more to do up)

If you do get some diagnostics on one, please let us know what they say, I would be interested to find out.

 

[Anime2lover]

If you do get some diagnostics on one, please let us know what they say, I would be interested to find out.

Ok.

 

[Eggcessive]

Hopefully others who normally butcher chickens will chime in with more comments. It might have something to do with the respiratory illness causing the problem. What were the symptoms seen? Did they mainly have sneezing and some congestion, or did you see bubbles in eyes or swelling of the eyelids or faces?