Chicken Necropsy--Learning the Hard Way (First page of report is at bottom of post)

[la babs]

I have had backyard chickens for 1 1/2 years. I have had 6 chickens coming at different times. 4 were rescues. 2 were purchased as unvaccinated pullets. It has been trial by fire. I looked at chickens as pets, like dogs. Big mistake. Chickens are more like fish, at least mine have been. They die, and fast. Weird deadly diseases come on suddenly and you find them looking at you with that "I know I'm going to die" gaze overnight. I've learned more about chickens than I ever thought I would know, and fast too. I have a 50% mortality rate. I have yet to save a chicken's life. Usually once I have correctly diagnosed the problem (and that takes sometime because there are so many and I have to read here all about symptoms, treatment, etc), I learn the disease is more than likely deadly. The one chicken that I took to the vet w a hugely distended abdomen was diagnosed (apparently incorrectly) as having terminal cancer. She was supposed to have died 8 months ago. Today she took a nice dirt bath and after sunning herself, assumed her role as lead chicken waddling around w her distended abdomen (there is no fluid in it, at least by xray and needle aspiration). One chicken died of internal laying (a egg farm rescue). One, an unvaccinated pullet about 8 mo old, died of possible Mareks. And now this one, another one of the purchased pullets, has died. She's just about 1 year 8 months old.

I am reluctant to get more chickens. the whole process seems fraught w too much death in too little time.

I would appreciate any learning I might have from this last experience. This girl (Frenci) was an Amercana, full of personality, laid almost daily, until she had a late molt. Everything just slowly deteriorated after that. I thought she had lost weight and stopped laying due to the molt, but maybe she molted due to an illness. I just don't know. Is there anything I could have done? There are no really good chicken vets I know around here. What should I have looked for? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[gatorshark75]

keep a variety of drugs on hand do some research as to what drugs treat multiple illnesses my go to drug for respiratory illness is tylan 50 there are more out there that can treat multiple illness so check into those and keep them on hand we do and i use real wormer i dont depend on the organic to fix problems but i do use organics to help in prevention

 

[pwand]

Sorry your going through this. There would have been no way to save this hen, she was very sick egg perontitis and looks like Mareks disease. If you get more chickens, consider not getting breeds that are prone to cancers or reproductive issues like leghorns, comerical birds like the brown hens. Try researching breeds for the common health issues. Look for heritage breeds. It shouldn't be so hard having chickens like this but sometimes it can happen. Look for a good breeder, get them vaccinated. If you have any repirtory issues at all in the chickens at any time, they are carries, I wouln't add new chickens until what you have is gone. Definitely no new chickens without vaccination, and don't take anyones chickens as they can bring disease into the flock. I know this is a heart breaker, its great you did a necropsy which helps with answers. The people who done the necropsy may also help with suggestions or answers as well. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. Hopefully your future chickens will give you joy with less issues. Don't give up on chickens.

 

[la babs]

Thanks. I have lots of drugs on hand, having had very sick chickens. This one was on Tylan when she died. You would not have known because it wasn't in the report. I was injecting it per discussions on this forum. Didn't help because her respiratory problem was pulmonary edema, I guess.

 

[la babs]

One thing I have learned is to have a lot of drugs on hand for all sorts of potential maladies. This is a good suggestion and one I had not heard of when I started w my first set of chickens. I ended up panic driving all over town to purchase various drugs or have them provided to me by other owners.

 

[la babs]

Thanks PWand for your very enlightening and caring post. It makes a lot of sense.

 

[pwand]

Thanks PWand for your very enlightening and caring post.  It makes a lot of sense.

Your welcome.

 

[subhanalah]

First let me say, I'm sorry you have gone through this. It's a risk one takes when rescuing chickens, but your intentions were good, and you are obviously a very doting and conscientious guardian.
I saw a fungal infection mentioned. It is entirely possible that the other issues made the chicken susceptible to this malady, but if I were you, to prevent this from happening to other birds, keep them on dry, clean bedding. Fungus thrives in moist, warm environments, coop floor being ideal.
Also, I believe the e.coli likely was a complication of the peritonitis and weakened immune system. Poor girl, the deck was just too stacked against her.

I hope you can continue to keep chickens and find enjoyment in them more than heartache, but if you decide against it, we would understand that too.