Healthy Chicken yesterday Died from aspiration of thick bile colored fluid today

[april parsons]

Does anyone know what could have caused my Hen to suddenly aspirate and die today- She was completely normal yesterday , ranging and eating in the yard with the other hens- no ill appearance- roosted in normal spot last night- crop empty this morning- she came out with the other girls bright eyed normal posture but "coughing- sounding hoarse" not eating (normally a food hound- she followed the girls in the yard. I picked her up and her breathing was Rales/ strdor. I opened her mouth and could see fluid in back of her throat. I tipped her down ( probably causing her death) copious amounts of yellow/green/brown thick fluid poured out. At which time she aspirated and died within 2 min. I feel horrible- not sure if she would have died if i would not have tipped her - But please any ideas of what could have caused this? I do not think it was sour crop as her crop is perfectly empty coming off her roost... Should i bury her ? do i worry about my 10 5 week old chicks and three Hens? any help is appreciated i just do not know what happened

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry for your loss

Is it possible for you to refrigerate the body and send it to your state lab for testing?
If not, performing your own necropsy may give a clue as to what was going on. If that's something you are able to do, then take some photos and hopefully we can help you with what you see. I would look at the crop contents, gizzard, in the abdomen, etc.

 

[Crazychickenlady73]

I had 2 chickens that died the same way! A month apart. I gave all my chickens antibiotics after the first one died, choking on her yellowish brown fluid, turned purple and died within 2 min. Antibiotics were given 2 weeks ago for 7 days. Then today another chicken died the same way. I had noticed lash eggs but that was before the antibiotics. Amberlyn white chickens that died. Only noticed they both was lethargic the day before they died. Before that no ailments. I am fearful of avian flu. And fearful of losing my backyard flock! I cleaned out the coop, changed their food and give them fresh water daily. And they were just dusted for mites. I cannot afford an autopsy.

 

[sophialoveschickens]

I had 2 chickens that died the same way! A month apart. I gave all my chickens antibiotics after the first one died, choking on her yellowish brown fluid, turned purple and died within 2 min. Antibiotics were given 2 weeks ago for 7 days. Then today another chicken died the same way. I had noticed lash eggs but that was before the antibiotics. Amberlyn white chickens that died. Only noticed they both was lethargic the day before they died. Before that no ailments. I am fearful of avian flu. And fearful of losing my backyard flock! I cleaned out the coop, changed their food and give them fresh water daily. And they were just dusted for mites. I cannot afford an autopsy.

i think that is pendulous crop. one of my hens has it right now and i'm pretty sure her days are numbered.. we're fasting her right now but when we're not she can't peck the ground without throwing up brown liquid. it also could be that if you turned her upside down that killed her (not trying to be mean) when you turn them upside down you can't do it for more than a few seconds and if she looks like she is coughing or choking after she probably inhaled the liquid and sadly i think that means the chicken will die depending on how much she coughed/choked. i suggest treating her with copper sulfate or other strong sour crop medicines if it ever happens again. god bless ❤