Dead Hen

[Ashb0429]

I found one of my 10 month old laying hens dead in the coop this AM. Late last night my brother was in the coop (trying to eradicate a rodent problem) around 11 pm and said she seemed very lethargic. She passed sometime during the night. I’ve noticed I’ve got a few with dirty butts so obviously we’ve got an illness in the flock.
Symptoms of the deceased hen were:
Lethargic
The gasping/crop clearing movement last night
Dirty butt/diarrhea

symptoms For the remaining flock:
3-4 with dirty butts

everyone else is acting Completely normal. No signs of parasites/worms in poop. No discharge or swelling. No mites, lice or external critters, bright red combs and wattles and normal energy and appetite.

even the deceased hen had good color to her comb when I found her this AM.

Thoughts on what this could be? Google says the gasping + diarrhea would be a parasite or infection. Trying to figure out the best treatment.

 

[Eva2020]

I'm so sorry for your loss What do you mean by dirty butts? Like poopy or dirt?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. If you have her body, and can keep it cold but not frozen, then call your state vet to get a necropsy by your state vet. Here is a list of state vets to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Ashb0429]

I'm so sorry for your loss What do you mean by dirty butts? Like poopy or dirt?

Poop - diarrhea

 

[Eggcessive]

You can take in some fresh droppings to a vet and get them tested for worms and coccidiosis. Most times you cannot see worm larvae in the poop, or worms themselves besides common roundworms. Many hens who suffer from reproductive issues or crop problems can have dirty vents. You can get them cleaned up with a warm soapy bath to just their vents, and dry them thoroughly with a hair dryer before putting them back inside. Some of the dried poop can be trimmed off with extra fluff. Once a chicken has a little diarrhea, it can continue to collect. Sometimes it is just easy for droppings can collect if they cannot fall straight down.

Again, a necropsy by your state vet will get answers if it is something contagious.

 

[Ashb0429]

You can take in some fresh droppings to a vet and get them tested for worms and coccidiosis. Most times you cannot see worm larvae in the poop, or worms themselves besides common roundworms. Many hens who suffer from reproductive issues or crop problems can have dirty vents. You can get them cleaned up with a warm soapy bath to just their vents, and dry them thoroughly with a hair dryer before putting them back inside. Some of the dried poop can be trimmed off with extra fluff. Once a chicken has a little diarrhea, it can continue to collect. Sometimes it is just easy for droppings can collect if they cannot fall straight down.

Again, a necropsy by your state vet will get answers if it is something contagious.

Thank you! We’ve got a local livestock vet. After further research and reading symptoms on gapeworm I have a feeling that’s what this might be :/ I just realized this is the bird I heard grunt a little while back. It struck me as odd at the time but seemed relatively harmless. Now I wish I had paid more attention. Lesson learned the hard way.