Maran Hen has Seizure, Throws up and dies HELP

[ChickHick134]

Hello, so back a few months in summer one of my older hens ( an Americana ) passed away due to having some seizure. Her neck went limp and she started to spazz before passing away within 15 minutes. Now all the way to the beginning of Spring the same thing happened but to my black Maran hen. The weather lately has been dramatically going from 10 degrees to 60 and I don't know if that affects them.

So starting from the beginning, I went up to go put away my chickens and goats 'cause it was getting dark and raccoons are a real problem around here. I looked into one of my igloos that I use for resting areas for my goats and a hen was in there. So I took her out and she seemed fine and I carried her to the coop and rested her on the perch. She jumped off and was walking real close to the ground with her wings spread out slightly. I carried her to my house and when I got inside she began throwing up. This greenish brown liquid came pouring out of her beak for about 5 minutes straight and during that time she spazzed out randomly and began flapping her wings before she passed away. This incident was much faster and disgusting than what happened with my Americana. I have no idea why this happened and need help soon.

I noticed some of my hens had enlarged breasts (more significant on the Speckled Sussex) and I read that was normal and should disappear in the morning and come back in the evening cause it's their food processing. But it seems their breasts never get smaller and I'm worried more hens are going to die. My chickens don't eat grit, are free range in a fenced area, and live with goats. If anyone knows how or why this happened and how to fix it please post!

Thank you

 

[ChickHick134]

Bump

 

[Sonya9]

Take the deceased "Americana" to your vet and have a necropsy done.

 

[bobbi-j]

Is there any chance they could be getting into something toxic? That's my first guess. What it could be, I have no idea.

 

[ChickHick134]

I don't think so, there's nothing toxic they could get to or at least I can think of. Would it affect them if they ate goat grain? Sometimes they eat the extras in the bowls.

 

[dtress]

I'm so sorry!

This happened to me last year with two of my hens from the same breeder. We have a great service near here at UC Davis where they will perform a necropsy on your bird free of charge - other than the shipping costs. Since I was new to raising chickens, I took advantage of this service. It turns out she had a virus - either from birth or contracted from another chick at the feed store - that is quite contagious and supposedly can remain dormant in the other hens for their entire lives. It can affect so many systems - but organ failure is the end result. I had lost another bird 8 mos earlier that I'm assuming was from this virus - but I can't be sure.

I was told I should cull my two remaining healthy birds to be safe, before introducing the new brood next month, but I don't have the heart to do so. My children are very attached - ok me too. So I'm taking my chances. Ugh.

Of course, there are many things that can cause seizures/rapid death. Since this has happened twice to you, I recommend the necropsy as well. I can't remember the name of the virus my bird had. I have it filed somewhere. At the very least, it will give you peace of mind to know the cause. That helped me a lot, as I was constantly wondering what I was doing wrong. And chances are you aren't doing anything wrong either.

 

[aart]

Sour crop leading to liquid in the lungs?

Sudden liquid in the lungs would cause some 'seizing'.

 

[ChickHick134]

I'm so sorry!

This happened to me last year with two of my hens from the same breeder. We have a great service near here at UC Davis where they will perform a necropsy on your bird free of charge - other than the shipping costs. Since I was new to raising chickens, I took advantage of this service. It turns out she had a virus - either from birth or contracted from another chick at the feed store - that is quite contagious and supposedly can remain dormant in the other hens for their entire lives. It can affect so many systems - but organ failure is the end result. I had lost another bird 8 mos earlier that I'm assuming was from this virus - but I can't be sure.

I was told I should cull my two remaining healthy birds to be safe, before introducing the new brood next month, but I don't have the heart to do so. My children are very attached - ok me too. So I'm taking my chances. Ugh.

Of course, there are many things that can cause seizures/rapid death. Since this has happened twice to you, I recommend the necropsy as well. I can't remember the name of the virus my bird had. I have it filed somewhere. At the very least, it will give you peace of mind to know the cause. That helped me a lot, as I was constantly wondering what I was doing wrong. And chances are you aren't doing anything wrong either.

I guess I'll try to get the deceased hen a necropsy but if it is a disease that affects a whole flock I don't think I can do much about it. I have around 40 chickens and killing them all like that would bring me to tears. But I do have some ducklings that are going to be coming in May, if there is a chance of virus should I keep the chickens completely away from the ducks or would it be alright for them to be in the same fenced in area? Thank you for sharing your experience.

Sour crop leading to liquid in the lungs?

Sudden liquid in the lungs would cause some 'seizing'.

I have been looking into the crop diseases and think one of my chickens might have one. As of now unsure of what to do :c

 

[aart]

I guess I'll try to get the deceased hen a necropsy but if it is a disease that affects a whole flock I don't think I can do much about it. I have around 40 chickens and killing them all like that would bring me to tears. But I do have some ducklings that are going to be coming in May, if there is a chance of virus should I keep the chickens completely away from the ducks or would it be alright for them to be in the same fenced in area? Thank you for sharing your experience.




I have been looking into the crop diseases and think one of my chickens might have one. As of now unsure of what to do :c

But at least you'll know.....hopefully you've kept the deceased hen refrigerated, not frozen.

Chickens are pretty hard to diagnose, and if it's something catastrophically serious, you'll have to rethink your future chicken plans.......
....and if it's not something serious, you'll feel huge relief and probably be told how to treat for it.

Hopefully you know by May what the scoop is...I would plan to keep any new poultry at least 50 feet away from the sick ones and practice medical quarantine procedures.

Good luck.

 

[ChickHick134]

I guess I'll have to, thanks for all the information and advice.