Hi from San Diego

[Rainbow Chicken Girl]

I’m new here and new to the chicken world.
I bought 11 pullets 3 months ago and have been watching them grow and I’m anxiously waiting for eggs.
Today we had our first chicken die. Not sure why so I thought I’d post. Yesterday she started acting lethargic so I isolated her from the rest of the group. (The other chickens started pecking her.)
She was acting like she was having trouble breathing and wouldn’t eat or drink.
We found her dead this afternoon.
We decided to autopsy her and discovered her liver had white cyst like things in it. Possibly parasites? Her lungs were bluish in color. I’ve attached pictures if anyone has any ideas.
I’m worried about the rest of my flock (10 other birds). I’m also Worried about eating eggs from sick chickens (when they finally start producing). My other birds seem normal.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
My birds eat only organic feed and do not have any wheat, corn or soy in their diets.
We feed them millet, barley, oats, sunflower and other seeds, and alfalfa. We also feed them vegetable scraps daily.
We have a grub hub and feed them fresh maggots and black fly larva daily.
I also buy meal worms and shrimp for them.

 

[lacychappell4]

Hello welcome to BYC . I'm sorry you lost a pullet . I don't have any answers. Its just a suggestion . she may have had a genetic issue and nothing is wrong with your other pullets . There are better informed people on here than me . That will be able to answer your questions

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

It appears to me as 'fatty liver disease'....it isn't fatty liver hemorrhagic disease. Did she have an unusually large amount of abdominal fat?
Could also be spotty liver disease!

Tagging: @casportpony , @Eggcessive

Sorry to hear of your loss!

Enjoy your time here!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
You need to feed your birds a complete balanced diet.
It could be fatty liver disease, avian leucosis, or even Marek's disease. Do you still have the organs in good condition? If so you could send them off for pathological analysis.

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens. The Best of Luck with your Flock! And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska.

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

Hello! Welcome to BYC! It almost looks like her insides were diseased. Sorry you lost her.

 

[Boppo]

Glad to meet you. So sorry for your loss! Best wishes with your birds and all your plans. If you are not happy with answers you are getting here (though you are getting some good ones), you can try posting on Emergencies/Diseases forum. Most folks here are just here to say hello to new comers.

 

[janiedoe]

Hello, welcome to BYC.
Commercial feed is formulated to offer chickens a complete diet, with appropriate protein, fat, and carbs. Too many meal worms and shrimp can cause fatty liver.
I think you should make an emergency forum post as @Boppo said. There are some very well qualified members who can offer you better advice than we can.
Best of luck to you and your flock.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Welcome to byc! so sorry about your loss.

 

[Tookie]

Hello and welcome to BYC!