Incomplete Necropsy Done Myself **GRAPHIC** Cause of Death?

[feathermaid]

My 2 year old hen stopped socializing and stood in the corner near water for most of the day before I confined her to the brooder section of the coop, where she died the next day. Corid was the only medicine I had but I knew it wasn't coccidiosis.

First I gave her a warm soak, blow-dried her, set her on a heating pad and checked her through the night. By morning she moved to the water again and drank occasionally but remained inactive until her death, which I did not witness, though I checked on her many times. That day (2 days ago) happened to be a birthday party for my daughter and I could not devote the time to my chicken when she needed it… such unfortunate timing! I wanted to keep her condition secret from the guests.

This was her position while she was sick.

I made many phone calls to have a necropsy done, but the expense at a local vet or overnight shipping to the university were just too much. I had no idea why she was ill, but after her death I suspected it could be egg yolk peritonitis.

So I decided to open her up myself. And I do not think my assumption was correct. Her body was in the fridge for at least 30 hours before I could find the resolve to cut into her. I know I did a terrible job and I apologize for the messy butchering… it was harder that I thought. I didn’t get very far before I had to stop and put the body back in the fridge… maybe to continue later.

Getting ready to cut. I was in the garage after midnight, under fluorescent light.

Removed the skin

First incision

Opened up a little more. Is all that surrounding tissue a thick layer of fat?

A little more to reveal the gizzard and that's as far as I got.

One more because I forgot to check her mouth. I don't know if she threw up before she died or if this happened because I held her upside down by her legs as I placed her in plastic bags so I could store her in the fridge.

Does anyone have any idea why she died?
How about suggestions of what to do next?

 

[Eggcessive]

Her liver looks tan and she has a ton of fat which may point to fatty liver hemorrhagic disease. The throat contents may be from an impacted crop and regurgitation. Her intestines look dark which might be from a blockage farther up in the crop or gizzard, but since you did the necropsy later, I don’t know if that caused the dark appearance. Some say that reproductive disorders and other diseases can cause the crop to not function normally, so possibly those other symptoms may be related.

I am only learning to try to figure out my own necropsies, so take my comments with a grain of salt. Hopefully, others will comment on what they see.

 

[coach723]

I agree with Eggcessives observations. That is a lot of visceral fat, so I would take a good look at what you are feeding, maybe too many treats or scratch. I have on occasion had to delay a necropsy because life got in the way, and it can sometimes change the coloring a bit, so can't tell if that contributed to the darkness in the intestines. The stuff in the mouth is probably crop contents, I've had that happen before. Seeing the heart and ovaries can sometimes hold clues. But I understand. My first necropsy was incredibly hard, I think I cried through the entire thing. But I learned. It does get easier, even if you never like doing it. One question, in your 4th necropsy photo there is something on the table, do you remember what it was? I've attached the picture below with the object circled. Wondering if it was just a bit of the fat layer, or something else since it is so regularly rounded in shape.

 

[feathermaid]

I agree with Eggcessives observations. That is a lot of visceral fat, so I would take a good look at what you are feeding, maybe too many treats or scratch. ....
One question, in your 4th necropsy photo there is something on the table, do you remember what it was? I've attached the picture below with the object circled. Wondering if it was just a bit of the fat layer, or something else since it is so regularly rounded in shape.

Right, I was shocked at how much fat there was! I hardly ever feed scratch but the chickens do have access to a compost bin where I put all our food scraps almost daily... it's the highlight of their day! I was careful to never put apple seeds and other certain foods, but now I realize there may usually have been bread and pasta. That was probably a bad idea and I will have to move the compost area for sure now.

I noticed that little thing, too. Not sure where it came from but thought it might have been an underdeveloped egg... it had the same shape... but soft and small. I cut it open and there was just liquid inside, not mucus, just liquid. There was also a ton of amber colored liquid filling her entire cavity which pooled and leaked out all over.

Here is a terrible picture of some of the pooling... and where I accidentally sliced part of the liver

 

[coach723]

So if that was an egg or egg matter, then that could mean she was beginning to lay internally. I don't think that you cut into her oviduct based on your pictures, so it would have to have come from her abdominal cavity. Lots of amber fluid usually means ascites, which would suggest more toward the liver. In the most current picture you posted, where the liver is cut, the texture of the liver looks abnormal to me. Often times the ascites is a symptom of organ failure, like the liver. That fluid puts pressure on all the internal organs. Just my opinions, hopefully some others will look and maybe see something.

 

[feathermaid]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts @coach723 and @Eggcessive
I'm extremely sad to have lost this super sweet chicken, but I have also been freaking out over whatever she died from might affect the others.

Do you think all the extra treats are to blame or was this possibly genetics?
Of course all that fat is definitely an issue so their new diet will have to become more streamlined. Poor Jewel (my laying hen) will have to go on a diet!