Question for all who have processed lots of birds

[azygous]

Is it normal, when you inspect the organs, to discover stomach, crop and gizzard full of sand and grit? I mean FULL.

I keep chickens as pets and for eggs, and I don't slaughter any. Recently I had a sick hen, I euthanized her, cut her open to try to discover the source of her problems. Not being familiar with the inside of a chicken and its parts, I didn't know what to make of the above organs being packed with sand.

She had been losing a lot of weight, not eating, diarrhea, etc.

Enlightenment by any of you would be appreciated greatly.

 

[WalnutHill]

Gizzard should have some gravel/grit, but not packed. Crop should have minimal mineral content, only what was recently consumed. Stomach shouldn't have any beyond what is ground down daily in the gizzard. Not much.

She may have had a nutritional deficiency or a parasite load and was trying to combat it. Unfortunately sand has no nutritional value and is indigestible so it did more harm than good.

 

[RedMini]

Having the birds off feed for 12 hrs before processing helps.

 

[azygous]

Thanks to WalnutHill. That's the info I was seeking. Much obliged.