Hen with gross chunks in throat and gasping

[Michael Apple]

Goldie the hen just passed

I'm very sorry. I'd like to help you get to the bottom of this problem. On page 19 of this link you will find State NPIP testing labs for TN. Bag each chick and put in the refrigerator, not the freezer, and contact a lab so they can examine the chick. Most labs will test backyard chicken owners for free. You need to find out what is causing this. Here is the link:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/poultry/downloads/labs_app.pdf

 

[casportpony]

Sorry for your losses.

-Kathy

 

[igotgoosed]

Thanks for your condolences.

Michael I am actually in Texas now, so I looked at the locations here and the closest one is almost 4 hours. I wonder if they could be shipped?

I really want to know what is causing this too. I'm afraid for the rest of the flock and I cant go thought this again with each one until they die too!!

I want you guys to know how thankful I am for all of your help. Even though I still lost them, you help and support gave them a chance.

 

[casportpony]

You can ship them and they'll probably let you use their FedEx account number to save on shipping.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

This is from a thread I started:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

How to Send a Bird for a Necropsy​

They need the whole bird, refrigerated, not frozen. If you live in CA, there are four labs that do necropsies on poultry (chickens, turkeys, waterfowl) for free. I know that they do out of state necropsies, but I think they charge for those. You could call them and ask what they charge for out of state "backyard poultry". The lab I use is the one in Tulare, CA. If you are in CA, call them and ask for their FedEx account number, it will save a bunch on shipping charges.

CAHFS
18830 Road 112
Tulare, CA 93274-9042
(559) 688-7543
(559) 686-4231 (FAX)
[email protected]


The other labs are listed here:
http://www.cahfs.ucdavis.edu/services/lab_locations.cfm

If it's Friday, unless you want to overnight for Saturday delivery, I would suggest shipping on Monday for Tuesday delivery. What you need to do, if you haven't already done so, is put your bird in your refrigerator, NOT the freezer! Then you need to find a box, line it with styrofoam (I use the 4'x8'x1" stuff from Home Depot. You can also get smaller pieces at an art store like Michael's, but is way more expensive. Click here to see foam options. You'll also need at least one ice pack. Here are some pictures that I took of the last bird that I sent:

Box lined with foam on four sides and bottom. Seams of foam taped sealed.


Box, sides, bottom and and top.


Frozen ice pack in ziplock baggie.


Brown paper on top of ice pack.


Hen in ziplock baggie on top of brown paper.


Brown paper on top of hen.


Ice pack on top of brown paper.


Lid on top of brown paper.
​

Inside the box you should also include a submission form in a ziplock baggie. Do not tell anyone at FedEx that you're shipping a dead animal... that seems to really worry them. Just make sure that nothing will leak.

Hope this helps!

-Kathy

 

[igotgoosed]

Thanks Kathy. I am waiting on a call back from one of the testing offices.

 

[Michael Apple]

Thanks for your condolences.

Michael I am actually in Texas now, so I looked at the locations here and the closest one is almost 4 hours. I wonder if they could be shipped?

I really want to know what is causing this too. I'm afraid for the rest of the flock and I cant go thought this again with each one until they die too!!

I want you guys to know how thankful I am for all of your help. Even though I still lost them, you help and support gave them a chance.

Excuse the error. At least i got the right page number for you,lol. I see Kathy helped you on the shipping. I hope the lab was helpful if you contacted them by phone. Separate the chicks that show symptoms from the others. Refer to what I mentioned in this post: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...chunks-in-throat-and-gasping/50#post_12044550

I just hope it is nothing like Laryngotracheitis, since there is nothing you can do besides vaccinate for that. That is why I asked about blood in the mucous. I hope for the best. Let us know what happens.

 

[igotgoosed]

Sorry to just now get back to replying. I have been dealing with a really bad horse colic since Monday, plus a sick child and juggling work in between all of that. Unfortunately, I was not able to send the birds off to be tested. My husband unknowingly buried them with my daughter before I was able to tell him I wanted to have them tested.

On a good note, I have not lost any more chicks since the last two Sunday night. I have them on antibiotics in the water since Monday, so maybe that has taken care of it. I sure hope so!

I really do appreciate all the help from you guys.