Hey everyone, I lost my Silkie rooster Cotton last evening. I found him in the coop after the fact, stiff. I didn't get to good a look since it was dark, but he did have one wing and one leg sprawled out to his side. I'm trying to "confirm" AVL, and just make sure I don't have something else going on.
For those that don't know, I lost my sweet Smudge to AVL multiple weeks ago. My flock is infected for life, so now I just want to make sure there isn't anything else I should be evaluating following his death.
It happened on Thursday, came on suddenly like Smudge I'm assuming. We had to head to town early that morning and didn't get back until 2. I had projects to do outside, so I watched them from a far while I worked in the yard and didn't take the time to go out to the coop to check on them all. Everyone seemed fine, but I wasn't paying attention to anyone in particular, so can't exactly recall what I saw Cotton doing. I came in at about 4:30-5, since I had just gotten dark to check on them all, fill feeder, etc. Thats when I noticed his body. I was outside all afternoon, no squealing like with Smudge, but I may not have payed close enough attention to notice any real symptoms.
Previous symptoms-
He was skinny, probably for the past 2-3 weeks? I noticed it a bit ago, and assumed it was probably bullying or having trouble getting to the new feeder location. I've been putting it on top of the coop with a free standing perch leading up to it so Doodle can't get to it, but they can. I placed him up there for a few times and put out a few more feeders. Once I released it wasn't getting better I started lifting him up there at least once a day to make sure he was eating. I don't think I did it long enough to see real results. That was the only real symptom I can think of.
I did see him trying to sleep under Sunny, who still allows her Serama pullets to sleep under her at night even though they're WAY to old. I've been placing them all on the perch to try and stop this behavior. Anyway, I remember thinking it was adorable, and placing everyone on the perch. He only did that once about a week ago?
I can'm imagen any other reason for his passing. They may have been out of water for about a day? I noticed last night that they had kicked a ton of straw into their waterer, which of course absorbed it. I just placed a bag of straw in the run, and failed to raise the water high enough. I don't think that this would kill that quickly though? Any ideas? All of the other birds are acting fine, no symptoms what so ever. Thanks for any suggestions, I appreciate it.
For those that don't know, I lost my sweet Smudge to AVL multiple weeks ago. My flock is infected for life, so now I just want to make sure there isn't anything else I should be evaluating following his death.
It happened on Thursday, came on suddenly like Smudge I'm assuming. We had to head to town early that morning and didn't get back until 2. I had projects to do outside, so I watched them from a far while I worked in the yard and didn't take the time to go out to the coop to check on them all. Everyone seemed fine, but I wasn't paying attention to anyone in particular, so can't exactly recall what I saw Cotton doing. I came in at about 4:30-5, since I had just gotten dark to check on them all, fill feeder, etc. Thats when I noticed his body. I was outside all afternoon, no squealing like with Smudge, but I may not have payed close enough attention to notice any real symptoms.
Previous symptoms-
He was skinny, probably for the past 2-3 weeks? I noticed it a bit ago, and assumed it was probably bullying or having trouble getting to the new feeder location. I've been putting it on top of the coop with a free standing perch leading up to it so Doodle can't get to it, but they can. I placed him up there for a few times and put out a few more feeders. Once I released it wasn't getting better I started lifting him up there at least once a day to make sure he was eating. I don't think I did it long enough to see real results. That was the only real symptom I can think of.
I did see him trying to sleep under Sunny, who still allows her Serama pullets to sleep under her at night even though they're WAY to old. I've been placing them all on the perch to try and stop this behavior. Anyway, I remember thinking it was adorable, and placing everyone on the perch. He only did that once about a week ago?
I can'm imagen any other reason for his passing. They may have been out of water for about a day? I noticed last night that they had kicked a ton of straw into their waterer, which of course absorbed it. I just placed a bag of straw in the run, and failed to raise the water high enough. I don't think that this would kill that quickly though? Any ideas? All of the other birds are acting fine, no symptoms what so ever. Thanks for any suggestions, I appreciate it.
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