Death of my Annie. What happened? Please help!

[nipper75]

2 year old EE. Not social yesterday, had a messy butt. When I picked her up to look water came out of her mouth. Separated her and she pooped clear with a little green clump. Found her dead this morning. What could have happened?

 

[nipper75]

No replies? Geez....

 

[Haveandtohold]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Did the water that came out of her beak smell bad? If so she may have been suffering from sour crop. If so it's very treatable if you have any other hens suffering with the same problem.

 

[nipper75]

Thank you haveandtohold. I thought it did have a smell to it but not real sure. When I picked her up to look at her bottom, that's when it came out. I did it twice. I was thinking sour crop too. Why did she die so fast?

 

[Haveandtohold]

If she was still alive when the water was coming out of her then it sounds more and more like sour crop. Hard to say why she died so quickly except that chickens try to hide illness for as long as they can to protect themselves from predators and the rest of the flock. A weak bird draws predators for the whole flock so a perfectly happy group can turn nasty very quickly if they suspect one of them is showing too much weakness.

 

[nipper75]

Yes, she was still alive when it poured out. I have to admit that she "wasn't right" for a couple of weeks. Can this go on for awhile? I wish I caught it sooner. She also had that watery, clear poop, thinned out breast... thanks

 

[Haveandtohold]

Clear watery poop is usually a sign of overheating (unlikely in this case I'm thinking) or a bird not getting enough protein or enough to eat. Sounds like she was probably suffering for a while and it caused her crop to feel full to her so she couldn't eat as she needed. Here's a link to a graphic chicken poop guide: http://pluckandfeather.com/chicken-poo-chart-graphic.html To prevent this in the rest of your flock I'd start adding Bragg's apple cider vinegar or any other organic brand that says it contains the "mother" (1 teaspoon per liter) once a week or so and mixing in some yogurt with live cultures with their food if anyone else seems to have the problem. Both of those treatments will help to keep the "good bacteria" in their crops in a healthy ratio.

 

[nipper75]

That's what I don't understand. I've been giving acv for 2 years.