HELP! I had a sick hen I had to put down, please read!

[black_cat]

Unfortunately I can't offer assistance either, and I usually just browse these threads to try to learn more. I'm sorry about your pullet and best of luck!

 

[SantiagoTafoya1]

Unfortunately I can't offer assistance either, and I usually just browse these threads to try to learn more. I'm sorry about your pullet and best of luck!

Thank you!

 

[Kiki]

I am located in New Mexico

Great. Are you willing to ship your bird to your state lab for a necropsy?

 

[SantiagoTafoya1]

Great. Are you willing to ship your bird to your state lab for a necropsy?

Which bird? I dont have the body of the deceased hen

 

[Kiki]

Unfortunately I don't have the body, but if any more come down with it, I am willing to do that. They eat 22% layer feed from a feed company called Onate Feed Co. Ive heard 22% is a good choice for easter eggers (please correct me if I'm wrong.) They also get scratch grains from the same company, as well as various fruit and veggie scraps ( that they can eat) and once a week they get bread from a deal I have where I get whole wheat bread that's organic for free and they get whats left before I get the next loaf(s)

I highly recommend you stop everything except the 22% layer feed immediately.


Bread is horrible for chickens.
So is scratch if fed often.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hey guys! I just joined, and I'm happy to meet you all!

This is my first post here, I recently had to put down my laying hen because of her condition. She was an easter egger chicken from freedom ranger hatchery, vaccinated for Mareks, and was medicated for coccidiosis from a chick, she was about 8 months. She was extremely lethargic the first few days, and had white diarrhea pasted to her, with these symptoms I thought because the temperatures had been fluctuating, she was adjusting a little dramatically. And then the one night I didn't do a headcount, she stayed outside for the night (it wasn't too cold that night) and I found her in the morning laying on her side, I coaxed her up and she walked around, seemingly uncomfortably, I left her to see if she was out the next night as well, and she was ( I made sure to check that time), in the same spot, she also seemed like she couldn't keep her eyes open, I researched frantically for about an hour trying to find out what it could possibly be and how I could fix it, after research I narrowed it down to either really bad (Salmonella Pullorum) or just something mildly to do with the temperatures. Either way I ended up putting her down that night because she was suffering and I wanted to put her out of her misery. Can anyone please tell me what you think it was? And if the rest of my flock could be at risk? Are my eggs dangerous to eat/ sell? Thanks in advance for my answers I can get, I'm still intermediately experienced with poultry, but Id appreciate any help I can get!

No one here can tell you why she died it would be speculation on our part, the only way to know would be to send the body to your state lab for testing.
If you think it was Salmonella, it's a good idea to find out for sure.

You can look up your state lab here https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Kiki]

Which bird? I dont have the body of the deceased hen

Sorry...I missed a post and responded out of order.

Research fatty liver disease.
There's absolutely nothing you can do for your dead bird but you can prevent this from happening to your other birds by changing their diet immediately.

There's zero way for any of us here to tell why your bird died so if you should lose another one I would highly recommend getting a necropsy done by your state lab.

 

[SantiagoTafoya1]

I highly recommend you stop everything except the 22% layer feed immediately.


Bread is horrible for chickens.
So is scratch if fed often.

They only get scratch maybe two times a week, and may I ask if you know why bread is so bad? Ive researched it before and from what I understood, if fed in moderation it is okay.

 

[Kiki]

They only get scratch maybe two times a week, and may I ask if you know why bread is so bad? Ive researched it before and from what I understood, if fed in moderation it is okay.

Moderation is key and if you're feeding anything more than a tablespoon worth to your bird per day it's too much.
Bread has zero nutritional value for them and everything that you feed besides the layer feed is taking away from a balanced complete diet.

Not getting a balanced complete diet can be deadly.

 

[SantiagoTafoya1]

No one here can tell you why she died it would be speculation on our part, the only way to know would be to send the body to your state lab for testing.
If you think it was Salmonella, it's a good idea to find out for sure.

You can look up your state lab here https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

I appreciate your comment, I am only looking for opinions as of now, I am just a little worried that it might be, Ive read that its very contagious so if it is spread I'm sure I'll find out sooner, rather than later