Dead Pullet

I went to the coop this afternoon and found my 30 week old OE pullet, Olive, dead. She hasn't laid yet either. I feel terrible I didn't have time to look in on them this morning.

Last night, she was being very cuddly and was kind of mopey. I was busy so I didnt play with the chickens much. When I locker them up, she was on the floor of the coop. I don't think much of it.

I found her this afternoon, not ice cold, but not warm either.

WARNING: Graphic pics!


Here's exactly how I found her.


Here's her vent.



I opened up her vent. I found this inside. I was crying the whole time while doing this, mind you. It's my first chicken autopsy.

I found little in her crop. Is it possible she ate this morning or was it yesterday?

I only opened her vent and crop. I couldn't bear to go further and she was pretty stiff. I lost a chicken suddenly whole I was away from home in August, I think she does the same way. I feel terrible, any help is appreciated. I would like to prevent this in the future.


RIP Olive 04/28/13-12/10/14

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope your other birds are ok.

Peep-Chicken said:

I went to the coop this afternoon and found my 30 week old OE pullet, Olive, dead. She hasn't laid yet either. I feel terrible I didn't have time to look in on them this morning.

Last night, she was being very cuddly and was kind of mopey. I was busy so I didnt play with the chickens much. When I locker them up, she was on the floor of the coop. I don't think much of it.

I found her this afternoon, not ice cold, but not warm either.

WARNING: Graphic pics!


Here's exactly how I found her.


Here's her vent.



I opened up her vent. I found this inside. I was crying the whole time while doing this, mind you. It's my first chicken autopsy.

I found little in her crop. Is it possible she ate this morning or was it yesterday?

I only opened her vent and crop. I couldn't bear to go further and she was pretty stiff. I lost a chicken suddenly whole I was away from home in August, I think she does the same way. I feel terrible, any help is appreciated. I would like to prevent this in the future.


RIP Olive

04/28/13-12/10/14

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so sorry about your losses, if you have lost a ## of birds and they were all about the same age, I would suspect Mareks, it often takes them out slowly, and with out symptoms, although most that I lost were slow, droopy and had stopped eating. were your birds vaccinated?
could also be they are getting into some thing poisonous ?
and yes there could still be food in the crop from last night.
chickens hide their sickness very well and it often goes undetected, don't beat your self up, most likely you couldn't have done anything for her any how. So sorry

snowflake said:

so sorry about your losses,   if you have lost a ## of birds and they were all about the same age, I would suspect Mareks, it often takes them out slowly, and with out symptoms, although most that I lost were slow, droopy and had stopped eating.    were your birds vaccinated?
could also be they are getting into some thing poisonous ? 
 and yes there could still be food in the crop from last night.
  chickens hide their sickness very well and it often goes undetected, don't beat your self up, most likely you couldn't have done anything for her any how. So sorry

Click to expand...

I got Olive from My Pet Chicken harchery, she was standard fowl so I did get her vaccinated. The other bird that died has just turned a year after she died.

Two days before her death, I accidentally locked her out in the morning, and didn't notice till a hour later.

Do you think it doesn't have to do with her vent then?

Thanks so much snowflake.

I have had this happen before. I do not to this day know what the cause is but I know it has nothing to do with having been left out. I no longer keep a light on to enhance laying in the winter, I did find I had birds with vent gleet. I also think our layers are by and large inbreed and therefore prone to internal structural disease. one of the big clues, no one else is sick.

dgh said:

I have had this happen before. I do not to this day know what the cause is but I know it has nothing to do with having been left out. I no longer keep a light on to enhance laying in the winter, I did find I had birds with vent gleet. I also think our layers are by and large inbreed and therefore prone to internal structural disease. one of the big clues, no one else is sick.

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I have never used lights in the coop. Wggs aren't very important.

No one else seems to be sick.

Thanks

I so sorry. especially since you never got any eggs from her.

Peep-Chicken said:

I got Olive from My Pet Chicken harchery, she was standard fowl so I did get her vaccinated. The other bird that died has just turned a year after she died.

Two days before her death, I accidentally locked her out in the morning, and didn't notice till a hour later.

Do you think it doesn't have to do with her vent then?

Thanks so much snowflake.

Click to expand...

it is possible she had an internal egg break, usually if they are laying internally their intestines will be covered with a thick yellow like egg yolk, at least that is what I found when I cut one open after she died, it is hard to say what that is that you found in the vent. But I think we have all had birds die for no apparent reason. Chickens are mysterious creatures.

NorthFLChick said:

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope your other birds are ok.

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mymilliefleur said:

I so sorry. especially since you never got any eggs from her.  

Click to expand...

Thanks you two.

snowflake said:

it is possible she had an internal egg break, usually if they are laying internally their intestines will be covered with a thick yellow like egg yolk, at least that is what I found when I cut one open after she died, it is hard to say what that is that you found in the vent.  But I think we have all had birds die for no apparent reason. Chickens are mysterious creatures.

Click to expand...

Thanks for all of your help snowflake. I will watch her 'sisters', just in case.