Molting and starving

[Matzwd]

Thank you too everyone who is helping with ideas and suggestions. I truly appreciate the camaraderie of this forum. I'm sad but also hopeful about learning more so I can be a better chicken mom.

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[Matzwd]

Update: Honey Dijon is slowly shooting down. In just meeting her comfortable.

From their web page....
Gross Necropsy Only Fee $20.00 which is a very reasonable price

I called and spoke with them this morning. They seemed puzzled that I would request a necropsy. I asked and they they said it wasn't routine for people to just request one. They have to ask the person who does them if they would be available, which they might not be. Also, I would have to have a veterinarian submit the request. It all sounds much more complicated than I had expected. They don't do the necripsies in Jefferson City and would do it in Springfield.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update: Honey Dijon is slowly shooting down. In just meeting her comfortable.

I called and spoke with them this morning. They seemed puzzled that I would request a necropsy. I asked and they they said it wasn't routine for people to just request one. They have to ask the person who does them if they would be available, which they might not be. Also, I would have to have a veterinarian submit the request. It all sounds much more complicated than I had expected. They don't do the necripsies in Jefferson City and would do it in Springfield.

I'm so sorry that she is declining


Now, I'm a bit confused! I thought the vet lab was in Springfield? The one in Jefferson City looks like it's the dept of Ag.
I know @ChickenCanoe has testing performed - where do you get your testing/necropsy done for Missouri?

 

[Matzwd]

I'm so sorry that she is declining

Thank you. It's been a bit of a rough start for chicken raising for us. I'm so attached to all out birds, and when you nurse one, you get more Really sucks to lose them. She's so weak and just lying there motionless and quiet. I'm taking her very shortly to the vet for euthanization.

Now, I'm a bit confused! I thought the vet lab was in Springfield?

I probably created the confusion. When I clicked the link, it makes Jefferson City first, but when I called, they did say poultry was done in Springfield.

New information as well, some especially informative for Missouri residents...They had passed my info along in an email to a couple of people regarding the necropsy, and the Manager of Poultry Health for the state of MO called me. He said that he thought my recent two losses might be yolk related infection and that it didn't sound like we had any infectious illness. Although, he did say it was a good thing to remove the sick bird from the flock. He also said that he thought it would likely be a waste of money to pay for necropsy on a chicken that has gone off food and water because her tissues would probably be too deteriorated to tell anything. And there is absolutely no meat on this little girl. He also advised that the best place to send for necropsy would be University of Missouri, and he said that if another in the flock showed signs of illness, he could possibly send someone out to check for avian flu. He then related that if another died, a vet could send it to the university and that he might have money in his budget to fund the necropsy, but I would need to pay for shipping. He was very compassionate and knowledgeable and actually told me to save his cell phone number in case I needed it in the future.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you. It's been a bit of a rough start for chicken raising for us. I'm so attached to all out birds, and when you nurse one, you get more Really sucks to lose them. She's so weak and just lying there motionless and quiet. I'm taking her very shortly to the vet for euthanization.



I probably created the confusion. When I clicked the link, it makes Jefferson City first, but when I called, they did say poultry was done in Springfield.

New information as well, some especially informative for Missouri residents...They had passed my info along in an email to a couple of people regarding the necropsy, and the Manager of Poultry Health for the state of MO called me. He said that he thought my recent two losses might be yolk related infection and that it didn't sound like we had any infectious illness. Although, he did say it was a good thing to remove the sick bird from the flock. He also said that he thought it would likely be a waste of money to pay for necropsy on a chicken that has gone off food and water because her tissues would probably be too deteriorated to tell anything. And there is absolutely no meat on this little girl. He also advised that the best place to send for necropsy would be University of Missouri, and he said that if another in the flock showed signs of illness, he could possibly send someone out to check for avian flu. He then related that if another died, a vet could send it to the university and that he might have money in his budget to fund the necropsy, but I would need to pay for shipping. He was very compassionate and knowledgeable and actually told me to save his cell phone number in case I needed it in the future.

I know, it's hard when you have been taking care of them like this. You get so attached. I'm very sorry

How very kind of the Manager of Poultry Health to call and discuss all this with you.
Just to clarify when he said "yolk infection related" did he mean she had something like Egg Yolk Peritonitis?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Update: Honey Dijon is slowly shooting down. In just meeting her comfortable.

I called and spoke with them this morning. They seemed puzzled that I would request a necropsy. I asked and they they said it wasn't routine for people to just request one. They have to ask the person who does them if they would be available, which they might not be. Also, I would have to have a veterinarian submit the request. It all sounds much more complicated than I had expected. They don't do the necripsies in Jefferson City and would do it in Springfield.

I always take/send the birds to the Mizzou vet school in Columbia.
There is a lab in Springfield but I've never used it.
I have them run the complete tests which not only finds the cause of death but also any other things that may be wrong.
Here is the contact info.
Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
University of Missouri
810 E. Campus Loop
Columbia, Missouri 65211-0001
Phone: 573-882-6811

They are doing necropsies all day most days except Sunday. I think most of the animals they get are dogs but the avian pathologist does lots of poultry too and they do everything from parrots to horses.
I have hand carried both live and dead birds there. Once was about midnight on a Friday night. They have someone on call 24/7.
The last 3 times they sent me a FedEx label for shipping which made it much easier.
I wouldn't go through a vet, that could take longer and likely add to the cost.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Sorry to hear Honey isn't doing well but still comfortable. Thank you for sharing your situation and what you have since learned about getting a necropsy done. We all appreciate shared info and knowledge.

 

[Matzwd]

Just to clarify when he said "yolk infection related" did he mean she had something like Egg Yolk Peritonitis?

Well, those were my words because I didn't quite understand what he was getting at. He definitely said something about yolk not being fully absorbed, and I asked if he meant egg yolk peritonitis. He said, "Well, yes, that too."I though yolk absorption was something that is expected with new chicks and went away from the conversion thinking perhaps he thought this pullet might have had problems all along as a result of this. I was a little confused but left it alone.

I always take/send the birds to the Mizzou vet school in Columbia.

I had called Missouri State University in Springfield, and I also received a call from a very helpful lady there. She said their vet treats the animals at Bass Pro, Dickerson Animal Park, and other major attractions in the area and heads up the vet program at the University. She wanted me to take my girl in to see him, but I explained we are going hours away, which she hadn't realized. She then told me out sounded as if Honey Dijon might be egg bound and to feel her cloaca. This is when I realized my quietly dying girl was immensely uncomfortable, and thigh she hadn't made a peep in almost 24 hours, she squawked in pain when I handled her. We took her to the local vet for euthanization. My husband drove us in his truck, and she cried every time we got a bump. It was awful! The doc there also did not recommend a necropsy and did a brief post-mortem exam. His guess was that she had a weakened immune system from day one and probably had been overwhelmed by ecoli, salmonella, or other bacterial infection. I explained to him she had been lethargic on and off since she was a tiny chick but that I thought it was just her laid back personality as she was my only faverolle and that's what I had read about them. He had said she had been off food and water to long to be able to pull through with treatment and that she likely would have gotten sick again.

There is a lab in Springfield but I've never used it.

I didn't realize there we one in Columbia. The state poultry guy told me (even though there is a state run lab in Springfield) that he recommended Missouri State University in Springfield. Thank you for the information. Even though the state guy and the local vet didn't feel anecropsy would be beneficial third time around, I now have information for future use.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

So sorry for your loss.