Chicken is Dead. What could it be?

[parksfamily08]

I brought a bird into the house that was hacking and coughing. Sounded just like the crappy cold stuff going around. She was sneezing and struggling to breathe. She was fine this afternoon. I gave her antibiotics from a syringe. Slowly, letting her drink it down. After that, I realized she had blood at the corners of her mouth. 5 min. later she was dead. She must have choked on the water, even though I let her drink it slowly. Is it likely she ate something she wasn't supposed to? I found some broken glass in the pen. (I've moved to a new house and my chickens are digging up all kinds of things I have to keep throwing away) And should I keep my other birds on antibiotics just in case? Thank you Not a happy bird mama. I only did what I thought was best trying to save her life.

 

[pwand]

I would say its possible her heart exploded. You would have not caused this. The hacking and coughing can be heart related. I suspect that is what has happened. How old is she? Send her of for a Necropsy.

 

[pwand]

Did she have any mucous from her nose and was there any bubbles in her eyes, or crusty?

 

[parksfamily08]

She just turned 20 weeks. Buff orpington cross. Nothing is wrong with the other birds. The weather has been snowy and cold, but I've kept a heat lamp on them. I never thought of her heart exploding, but that could be why there was blood.

 

[parksfamily08]

No mucous, or bubbly eye. That's why I thought it was the beginning of the cold. I've treated bubbly eye colds before.

 

[pwand]

Some places do a necropsy for free. It would be worth doing. If your not able, opening her up is a good plan.

 

[pwand]

I feel it was her heart, and so young. Sorry you lost her this way, it was fast.

 

[parksfamily08]

I am glad she died quickly so I didn't have to make a hard choice and she didn't have to suffer. When they are young, you really want to fight for them, but sometimes it's better that the pass.

 

[pwand]

I agree.