Donated my dead hen to science...

[S5apiotrowski]

There are some nasty bugs spreading around backyard flocks around Central North Carolina. I lost my favorite hen a little over 2 weeks ago to some sudden respiratory like illness. I lost another one yesterday - but she was different! She did have rapidly progressive (like overnight) paralysis of the legs. She had a great appetite in the first 24 hours after immobility which quickly dwindled - and she died less than 48 hours after paralysis ensued.

I happen to work pretty closely with a veterinarian who works in teaching medics. Although not specifically avian trained (its maybe 1-2 days of vet school total), we had been discussing poultry illness and I asked if he would be interested in performing a necropsy if another chicken passed - and he was.

Today the vet gave a class to medics on diseases that cross boundaries and offered to perform the necropsy with medics. Two veterinarians worked with 2 medics. Because vets have limited opportunities to work with birds, they enjoyed the opportunity to freshen up skills. In the process, they were able to teach medics (who work in rural areas and with livestock) how to euthanize chickens with cervical dislocation (considered humane and appropriate).

Samples were taken to send to pathology. The vet is linked in with a veterinary residency program training in pathology (look at tissue slides with the microscope to identify diseases). Because it is a training program, there are no fees for the service. Again, some programs rarely see avian tissue, so this is an opportunity for them! For me, the expense is shipping tissue to the lab.

My biggest concern is the potential for Marek's disease. I feel very fortunate to work near a vet that was able to help me out without racking up large expenses for an inexpensive (but priceless) pet.

I wanted to share my story because there probably are other vets out there - especially those involved with teaching or education, who may be eager to help people with sick flocks or do post-mortem exams. Birds are such a limited part of education, that many may want to help to improve their own understanding and knowledge and to help limit suffering/spread of disease.

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The preliminary good news for me - no tumors or gross signs to suggest Marek's. Not to wait for pathology results...

 

[Eggcessive]

Your state vet can also do necropsies for certain illnesses. Botulism is common in free ranging chickens and especially in ducks from eating decayed animal carcasses or vegetation that has been buried. Symptoms are paralysis of the legs, then wings, then neck and then death. Some chickens will recover with good care if they survive for 48 hours if they haven't consumed enough toxin.

 

[S5apiotrowski]

Thanks for that description! I read about botulism, but wasn't sure the order/progression of symptoms. Our girls are free-rangers - so there is no saying what they found to eat and symptoms progressed rapidly in that order. I would rather have it be Botulism than Marek's

 

[dawg53]

Thanks for that description! I read about botulism, but wasn't sure the order/progression of symptoms. Our girls are free-rangers - so there is no saying what they found to eat and symptoms progressed rapidly in that order. I would rather have it be Botulism than Marek's

Once you get the pathology results, please post them. Thanks.

 

[S5apiotrowski]

Once you get the pathology results, please post them. Thanks.

The results: Sepsis. There was a lot of respiratory inflammation - probably started with pneumonia- The brain was not sent in, but infection there could explain paralysis. The sciatic nerve and lower nervous system was fine. The good news - NO MAREK's!!!

We lost one hen 1-2 weeks before rather quickly to a respiratory infection but did not send her in. Since the Giant passed, we've had a sick Rooster. We treated him with Abx early, and he appears to be doing better (still not great) - but eating, drinking, and moving well - getting better!

In general, the chickens all appear to be doing better, but we will watch them closely. No fairs for us. I do not want to spread any germs - even if they do appear better! I am just very happy its not MAREKS!

 

[dawg53]

Thanks for the follow up. A bacterial infection was the root cause, probably the pneumonia like you mentioned. I'm glad it's not marek's.