Healthy looking chicken dies, why?

[TomG]

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Thank you for your reply. She didn't appear obese but then again I've never seen an obese chicken. She was my heaviest bird so a burst liver is as good a possibility as any. I don't want to cut her open as I'm not knowledgable enough to know what is wrong or right inside.

 

[birdlover]

No, I wouldn't cut her open! A necropsy is done by professionals who know what they're doing. For the future, do you know where you can get one done around your area?

 

[TomG]

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Yes, we have an avian vet very close. Not cheap. $50 for a sick bird exam.

 

[Sadiew]

I have no answer for you but just wanted to say sorry for your loss, I lost one yesterday also so understand.

 

[h8snags]

I just lost my Orpington, Buttercup, yesterday. There were no problems, she was very healthy, only 19 1/2 weeks old. She was my favorite. One minute she was there with the flock, and the next, she dropped to the ground. I thought she was taking a dust bath. The others around her were trying to get her to wake up, I ran out there, but she had already passed. There were no signs at all of her being sick, she was a big chicken, but on the lower end of the pecking order. The others didn't pick on her, they all get along great. She wasn't laying yet, just getting her waddles in, so I don't think it was due to egg binding. Not sure what happened, but I was devistated.. So here I am looking for answers too!
So sorry for your loss

 

[birdlover]

Melanie,
So sorry for your loss, too. I find loving on the others helps with the pain of loss. ((((Melanie))))

 

[speckledhen]

You can certainly do a necropsy if you want to. No reason not to do it yourself. Have done many and it's very educational.

My first hen who died suddenly seemed fine. Upon looking in her abdomen, we did find loose yolk in there, so we then knew she died from egg yolk peritonitis.

 

[h8snags]

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Thank you Ellen! I don't know of any other place (BYC) where so many understand what we go through raising chickens. Most people think we are just plain 'ol crazy for loving them so much! I am grateful there is such a wonderful place we can come to to try to find answers! I am still trying to find an answer for what happened to my little Buttercup. I may never know. But life does go on, and I still have 7 babies to love!

 

[Elite Silkies]

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I would also do a necropsy myself, just because I would have to know

They sell scalpels at TSC. After processing my meaties, I cut one in half, and it was very easy, so I don't think it would be hard to do it yourself.

 

[Pele]

I'm sorry for your los

It's up to a person's individual nature as to whether or not a necropsy is a possibility. I personally would be very curious, and have had enough biology classes in my life that I could suss my way through it, but then again if it was my favorite hen, I might be too emotionally attached to do one myself. Tough call

It is always a possibility that she had some sort of physical problem from birth that didn't show till now. It happens with humans quite a bit, even with all our medical technology and yearly exams. Just earlier this year there was a poor young man in highschool who died during a football game. He looked completely healthy, and had passed a physical exam to be on the team. It turned out he had a heart valve that was bad, and was just a timebomb ticking away his whole life. It was very sad, and I felt for his family.

I'm certain it was nothing that you did wrong, you seem to be a very conscientious owner.