Black comb lethargic

[Trixe123]

Update: we decide to cull this morning. She continued to be extremely lethargic and had stopped eating and drinking. We did a necropsy and here is what we found.
Tons of grass impacted in the crop. Lots of grass in the gizzard and stomach. Rock hard feces stuck in the intestines. Some fat on the heart. We believe that there was a crop issue when we were treating for worms and it became slow but we thought it was just sour. We think it built up from there. Very sad as this was our first loss. Thanks everyone for the feedback and support.

 

[MagpieDucks]

Update: we decide to cull this morning. She continued to be extremely lethargic and had stopped eating and drinking. We did a necropsy and here is what we found.
Tons of grass impacted in the crop. Lots of grass in the gizzard and stomach. Rock hard feces stuck in the intestines. Some fat on the heart. We believe that there was a crop issue when we were treating for worms and it became slow but we thought it was just sour. We think it built up from there. Very sad as this was our first loss. Thanks everyone for the feedback and support.

Kudos to you for doing a necropsy on her. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like you did the best thing to cull her so she would not suffer. It does really help to do a necropsy to try and find the cause of death. Necropsy pictures are always welcome here for any second opinions. Many crop problems can be secondary to another primary problem. Some times a professional necropsy by the state poultry vet can be good to do in case there was an underlying issue. Those can be inexpensive in some states, and more expensive in others. Here in OH, it costs $23 if you deliver the body, and in CA iit is $20-25.

 

[aart]

Update: we decide to cull this morning. She continued to be extremely lethargic and had stopped eating and drinking. We did a necropsy and here is what we found.
Tons of grass impacted in the crop. Lots of grass in the gizzard and stomach. Rock hard feces stuck in the intestines. Some fat on the heart. We believe that there was a crop issue when we were treating for worms and it became slow but we thought it was just sour. We think it built up from there. Very sad as this was our first loss. Thanks everyone for the feedback and support.

Condolences....and Kudos for opening her up.

 

[Trixe123]

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like you did the best thing to cull her so she would not suffer. It does really help to do a necropsy to try and find the cause of death. Necropsy pictures are always welcome here for any second opinions. Many crop problems can be secondary to another primary problem. Some times a professional necropsy by the state poultry vet can be good to do in case there was an underlying issue. Those can be inexpensive in some states, and more expensive in others. Here in OH, it costs $23 if you deliver the body, and in CA iit is $20-25.

Thanks for the advice, I was unaware of the state poultry vet. Posting some pics below of what we found in crop and gizzard. As well as other pics.

 

[Eggcessive]

The straw in the gizzard or crop is obviously bad. I am going to tag a few people who may be around to look at the picture of the organs for anything they may spot out of the ordinary— @casportpony , @TwoCrows , @azygous , @aart or anyone else that wants to comment.
The fat is very yellow, or it some of that egg yolk? Here is a list of state poultry vets:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Trixe123]

The straw in the gizzard or crop is obviously bad. I am going to tag a few people who may be around to look at the picture of the organs for anything they may spot out of the ordinary— @casportpony , @TwoCrows , @azygous .
The fat is very yellow, or it some of that egg yolk?

We believe the yellow is fat. She did not have an egg inside so not yolk.

 

[aart]

Was that hunk of grasses in the crop or the gizzard...or both?
Do you have pics of the intestines and/or the abdominal cavity before removing most of the organs?

 

[MagpieDucks]

Just out of curiosity, do you provide free choice grit to your birds?

 

[Trixe123]

Was that hunk of grasses in the crop or the gizzard...or both?
Do you have pics of the intestines and/or the abdominal cavity before removing most of the organs?

Grass was in the crop. There was also some in the gizzard but that is not pictured. I only have the pics I posted. The heart has yellow fat but all other organs appeared to be normal except the intestines that had a chunk of hard feces.