I believe we may have found the problem. Mold intoxication.
I live in central Florida and mold is a big issue. One I didn’t have to deal with when I had chickens up north and never thought about.
Other people here have had a very similar “illness” and it appeared to be that mold was the...
Unfortunately you were not on sooner. I have destroyed her remains earlier in the day. (Prevention safety for my flock)
From my minimal knowledge of chicken anatomy but slight knowledge of basic anatomy I think she had some kind of fibrosis of the intestine, limiting her fecal release.
Food...
I noticed the thick walls of the intestine and I did open them, there was not any mass (tumor) blocking the passage however it was hard to determine if the thickening of the walls made partial blocking of their own. ( hence passage only of watery with small amounts of stool)
The second picture...
This was my first necropsy so it was a bit sloppy.
Hope not to need to do others, kinda stinky even with a mask.
It took some courage on my part so I didn’t start for about an hour after. She already had gases.
When I pushed in her stomach to cut the skin and air came out her mouth passing...
I did do a necropsy on her.
I did not see any eggs, the gizzard had food in it so no anemia, lungs appeared ok. Not sure about liver ( not a vet)
Her crop had liquid and food reminents but may have eaten when I was inside.
I did notice some spots of thinkness in the intestinal wall, but when...
I really did try. Poor girl
I never lost a hen beside a predator attack ( a dog -once) and well the farmer down the way.
My old girls quit laying (age) I didn’t have the heart to butcher them so I gave them to the farmer who had no qualms about it.
Probably not, since it doesn’t seem like an epidemic
If another gets sick I will most definitely. At this point no egg binding that I could feel, crop not impacted, no parasites, other hens fine.
Leads me to believe she had a reproductive issue and was finally coming to age.
She died in my...
She is refusing food.
So, I offered her favorite ( grapes) with her calcium supplement.
Nothing I had to put the calcium in her mouth.
I see it very bad if she doesn’t gobble down her favorite treat.
She is the lowest on the pecking order and she would run in, wings blazing, rebel in her...
I do have a question,
If it was an external force making her sick wouldn’t I see symptoms in the other girls ( I have only hens) ?
All the others are just fine (knock on wood)