First Death!

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Hi, guys. Today, I was opening the coop and I found my only blue andalusion dead. She was laying stiff with her legs up, her eyes closed, and no color in her waddle. I’m planning on trying to find out what happened before I put her to rest. I am currently in a mourning process. But she was just a very sweet hen. I think she might have been roosting when she fell or something. Also the door was unlatched when I got there. So it may have been a predator.
Anyway, if you have any idea why, please let me know. Thanks.


Rip Dash
May 17, 2018 - November 18, 2018

 

[LlamaGirl4]

I’m sorry for your loss. Losing your first is hard. I remember losing my 1st hen the day she turned 10. It was hard. Prayers that you found out what happened and that your flock is safe

 

[Wezdin]

The best way to know how it died would be to send it in for a necropsy, then you should know for sure.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Thanks. She was a very sweet hen.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Do you take it to an avian vet for a necropsy?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. I would look her skin over for any hidden wounds that may have been caused by a predator. Some chickens can die around the age they start to lay from a reproductive or heart problem. The best way to diagnose her would be to get a necropsy by your state vet or poultry lab. But you can sometimes find something obvious by doing one at home, opening the abdomen and looking at the organs. Taking pictures of that and posting here may get some answers. Refrigerate the body, and send it on ice packs in a styrofoam cooler if you send the body to the state vet. Here is some contact info:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi, guys. Today, I was opening the coop and I found my only blue andalusion dead. She was laying stiff with her legs up, her eyes closed, and no color in her waddle. I’m planning on trying to find out what happened before I put her to rest. I am currently in a mourning process. But she was just a very sweet hen. I think she might have been roosting when she fell or something. Also the door was unlatched when I got there. So it may have been a predator.
Anyway, if you have any idea why, please let me know. Thanks.


Rip Dash
May 17, 2018 - November 18, 2018

I'm sorry to hear about Dash

The only way to find out the cause of death would be to have a necropsy and testing performed. You can refrigerate the body and send it to your state lab which you can look up here https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...sease-testing-lab-info.1236884/#post-19849025

Alternatively, if you think you are up to it, you can perform an informal necropsy yourself looking in the abdomen, internal organs, gizzard, etc. Take photos if you wish and post them, we can try to help you with what you see.
http://vet.uga.edu/oldvpp/programs/afvet/attachments/how_to_necropsy_a_bird.pdf

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Thanks for the tips. But I don’t think I have the heart to open up her body. Thanks anyway. I’ll try to see where she can get a necropsy.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Thanks like I said before I don’t have the heart to do it. But I will try to alder about the necropsy.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Also something that might be important was that they moved into their new coop. This was their first night in the coop. The roosts were higher.