I have made a number of post concerning some of my chickens getting sick and then dieing. Last night I came home to one of my big R.C.R.I.R. dead as dirt.
(Home hatched) She had an abscess on her ankle I had been treating but I do not think it had anything to do with her dieing. Part of treatment was 1/2 cc penicillin the last 4 days. I did notice she was showing of the same behavior yesterday and the day before that the other chickens exhibited before they die. They just start getting a "out to lunch" attitude. They may (or may not) go out with the others to free range. They don't seem as interested in pecking around as the other birds. This progresses to just sitting around for a few days before they die. (Even when I bring them in and try to save them.) Others get slightly O.T.L. for a couple of days, then boom fall over dead.
7 mo. old, not from the same flock, hen and roos. Treated flock(s) two weeks ago for coclliosis. Did a necropsy on the last hen. The only thing I found (don't know what I am looking for) was what seemed to be a huge liver, but it looked healthy. The gizzard was filled with black grit that looked like ground up road tar. The heart was more of a round shape about the size of a golf ball. The crop was full. I would like to post the pic's but I only have tether from my phone for Internet ~ extremely slow ~ or not at all for posting pictures. I think I will necropsy this last hen also. It is very cold, rainy, and windy here today. I think she will "keep" till this afternoon. The last hen I froze and despite a day 'thawing' she was still frozen in the middle. Ick !
Any ideas / help B.Y.C family appreciated ! Thanks !
