Found one of my hens dead today. Warning Vent Photo

[rebrascora]

By the way, I'm really sorry for your loss. I know how heart breaking it is when you lose one.

 

[Kenny_]

When you take a chicken to a pathologist for a necropsy, what type of fees are involved in that? Just wondering.

Thanks for your candor!

 

[flwrldy]

Hi

I'm of the camp that there is always a cause for death. Yes chickens can just die suddenly, but there is something that causes it, be it organ failure, disease injury etc and like you I want to know what it was and if there is anything I need to do to prevent future deaths or sickness.
That vent looks like it may be prolapsed to me although the photo is not that clear and it's always difficult to judge from a photo anyway or perhaps she is/was egg bound. Have you had the opportunity to observe her closely the last few days? Chickens will try to hide illness, so she may have been sick for a few days and you just didn't notice, especially at this time of year when it is dark when you go to work and dark when you come home and cold outside, so we don't spend nearly so much time enjoying our feathered friends. Egg binding will usually be fatal within 2-3 days and can cause them to prolapse. The prolapse itself would be fatal if the tissue dried out and became necrotic and infected but it doesn't look that bad. There are many other chicken illnesses and diseases though.
I will be interested to read the necropsy report if you will be good enough to post it when you receive it. I applaud you for organising to have one done, especially at such short notice with the death being unexpected. I hope the result gives you some peace of mind.

Thank you so much! Exactly, they don’t just die for no reason. Thank God I live about 10 minutes from UNH a once only Agricultural college, and they have this service available to the public through their veterinarian program I guess is what you call it. Here is their link. It was 35.00 and 10.00 more for a fecal test, which I also had done. They also cremated her for me for free, which I was thankful for since we have about 6” of frozen snow on the ground. I know it’s just a chicken, but I’m super attached to my girls and take the best care I know how of them. I’m like a mom with the first baby, super protective. Hence my profile quote.. I’m not the crazy chicken ladie, just a mother hen. Something my husband debates lol saying so am the crazy chicken lady as well.. I definitely will post the results. Thank you for commenting

 

[flwrldy]

When you take a chicken to a pathologist for a necropsy, what type of fees are involved in that? Just wondering.

Thanks for your candor!

I took her to UNH our state college here in NH. It was $35.00 for the necropsy and an extra 10.00 for the fecal test, so 45.00 in all. I didn’t have to have the fecal test but I want to make sure for an xtra 10.00 that my hens are as healthy as possible. Here’s the link if anyone you know lives here and unfortunately needs one done.
https://nhvdl.unh.edu/about-us

 

[flwrldy]

By the way, I'm really sorry for your loss. I know how heart breaking it is when you lose one.

Thank you so much I’m so upset. Never thought I would cry over a chicken, but... anyway.. Thank you.

 

[rebrascora]

Yes, sadly most of us have shed tears over the loss of some of our feathered friends. At least you found her dead and didn't have to go through the anguish of making the decision to euthanize her and of course, carrying it out, which is really hard, I can tell you!!
That sounds like a pretty good deal for the necropsy. I now do my own because I learn more that way and I find it fascinating, but if I had a local facility that offered those rates I might be tempted to have it done professionally. I have a local lab that does mail order faecal samples and gives next day results via email for £10 including postage which I find an excellent service. Vet's will usually charge at least twice that for the same service.

 

[orrpeople]

So very sorry for your loss!! They do become so much a part of our lives that it is never easy to say good-bye.

The expense for necropsy here is the shipping (Only Fed-Ex will deliver deceased animals). We are about 3 hours away from UC Davis, so had to send mine in with ice packs - overnight delivery for about $40 - the actual necropsy was only $20 for up to two birds. I definitely applaud your quick thinking to have it done. You may be saving others in your flock.

 

[flwrldy]

Yes, sadly most of us have shed tears over the loss of some of our feathered friends. At least you found her dead and didn't have to go through the anguish of making the decision to euthanize her and of course, carrying it out, which is really hard, I can tell you!!
That sounds like a pretty good deal for the necropsy. I now do my own because I learn more that way and I find it fascinating, but if I had a local facility that offered those rates I might be tempted to have it done professionally. I have a local lab that does mail order faecal samples and gives next day results via email for £10 including postage which I find an excellent service. Vet's will usually charge at least twice that for the same service.

This is my very first chicken death, if you don’t count Miss Hen, a chicken my daughter owned that would drive in her van with her and the kids. She was super sweet and friendly and always greeted me when I went to visit. My chicken that passed today was Henny Penny, the smallest of my Buff Orpingtons. I hope they’ll know and send me the results tomorrow. I have a suspicion however in May have been a stuck egg because of her vent. I’m sorry you had to make such a difficult decision. I’ve had to do that with dogs and cats in the past. Not good.
I’m so glad they offer the necropsy for such a low price.

 

[micstrachan]

I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Our feathered friends sure do capture our hearts. Big hug.
I, too, would be interested in learning the result.

 

[flwrldy]

So very sorry for your loss!! They do become so much a part of our lives that it is never easy to say good-bye.

The expense for necropsy here is the shipping (Only Fed-Ex will deliver deceased animals). We are about 3 hours away from UC Davis, so had to send mine in with ice packs - overnight delivery for about $40 - the actual necropsy was only $20 for up to two birds. I definitely applaud your quick thinking to have it done. You may be saving others in your flock.

Thank you for your kind words. No it’s not easy. This is my first loss. We’ve been checking them all night. So far everyone else seems fine. I was very thankful it only cost 35 and 10 for the fecal test. If it was more then that my husband would have probably not let me. We’re on a tight budget, but thankful he did because it wasn’t much. I don’t know it that’s for up to two birds or animals or just one.