Sick hen (update: now dead) part of a 6 month death party PICS Page 2

Ok, so we called a person that our state veterinarian recommended. I walked him through all the deaths, and he said that our symptoms were all very varied.

Some things he mentioned:

Walking on hocks in usually a bacterial infection in the joints (as in my silver campine)

It is probably not Marek's since that occurs in birds under 20 weeks of age.

He said that most people are not willing to pay the necropsy fee, just because it is easier and cheaper to just get new birds. But he said in our case, if it is something in the bacteria or virus in the environment, your new birds will also get sick.

So we are going to try to get a necropsy done at a diagnostic lab at the nearby vet school. They can do exams on dead birds, but the one I have dead will probably be too old by the time we got in in there tomorrow. He said that the best way is for them to take live birds that are about to die. In that case, I will probably take the two sick birds I have now, since both of them are on their way out, esp. the barnevelder, who isn't walking anymore.

Thanks for all the info. I would have never imagined even looking for someone to do a necropsy. I didn't know something like that existed! Thanks for the info on State Vets, or I would have never found this very helpful guy and never found this diagnostic lab. I'll show my thanks by trying to help other people through what I have learned (and yet to learn tomorrow)

Thanks a million
 
Wow, I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I think it's an excellent idea to bring in your two sick birds for a necropsy. It's really the only way to know and I don't think you can rest until you figure it out. If you had that big of a parasite load I'd think you'd see something. Wonder if it could be the feed. . . maybe you could bring some of that too and see if they'll test it.
 
I am so glad you found somebody who can help you! Hope he can figure out what the matter is!
hugs.gif
hugs.gif
 
Wow, good job! At least you on on your way to finding some answers. It still hurts to lose your birds, but knowing what the enemy is will help you win against it. Good luck and keep us posted.
smile.png
 
Wonderfully informative thread! I'm so sorry for your losses, I know how frustrating that is.

Please do let us know what you find out, I will also be looking into many of the things you've mentioned.

Best of luck!!!
 
I brought my Faverolle, my barnevelder, and the cuckoo that died two days ago into the diagnostic lab today. Hopefully with the three birds they will be able to figure it out. Each bird had very different clinical signs, so it will be interesting what they find for each.

I am glad I was able to bring them in to finally get this figured out. I'll let you know the results as soon as I get them.

Thanks
 
The results are just coming in. There are a series of preliminary reports and a final report, and they are all long and in veterinary jargon. We are going to call to get an interpretation and explanation, then I will let you know ASAP. From what we can gather, it appears to be caused by two bacteria, Gallibacteria and Pasteurella. Will let you know the details once I know them.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom