So my chicken died - do I need to call dept of Ag?

[write2caroline]

Last night my daughter noticed Lutzie our GLW did not go up with the other chickens, she was in the corner of the coop laying down. She has looked off for a while but was eating well and pooping normally. I am not sure she ever layed an egg. 3-15-09 hatching. She has been lying down a lot and puffing her feathers but whenever I tried to check her out - acted fine. I gave her a couple of baths thinking she could be egg bound and used oil on her vent. I never felt anything wierd or sharp. Last night her tummy was firm. Earlier I checked her and she was fine and in an hour or so she had a seizure or a heart attacked flopped around some and died in my arms. - I know! Sad huh!

So, should I call dept of ag and report it and save her little body or should I go ahead and bury her?

None of my other chickens seem sick or sleepy or puffed up.

When she was two weeks old my dog tried to play with her and she was in shock. I nursed her through it but she could have had problems from that - I didnt forsee.

I guess for the sake of the remainder of my chickens and my neighbors nearby I should get her checked out. But I wanted a consensus from you folks. Also - should I put her in the fridge?

Caroline

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I'm so sorry!! The mishandling by the dog could have done some internal damage, and/or caused scar tissue to grow, which could have affected her ability to lay correctly. If you can't do it yourself, I'd have your vet at least open her up to tell you if she was laying internally. If not, then i would have her sent to a pathology lab (nearest vet school) to get some answers. Good luck.

 

[Chicksdigit]

You can do whatever you like but, Chickens die all the time for no apparent reason, If your other Chickens seem fine and no others die from strange causes then bury her or dispose of her in whatever way you need to and move on with your life. But like I said before you can do whatever you like.

 

[write2caroline]

Yeah, I guess, I don't need the cause of death. I just wanted to do the right thing as far as good chicken keeping goes. I think I have done fairly well with keeping them clean and clean water, good feed and stuff. I read some where in regard to poultry you are suppose to report it. I just wasn't sure. I feel bad for Lutzie but I did everything I could for her and right now I am unemployed so a vet visit isn't in the budget.

thanks
Caroline

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
I think that probably refers to a death that looks like West Nile or Avian Flu.....

 

[al6517]

Quote:
Ditto.................... I don't think there is any reason to call out the Surgeon General on this one, there is really nothing you stated that seems to throw up any red flags regarding health issues.

AL

 

[Ridgerunner]

I personally would not with one chicken dying. If a second one died with what looked like anything close, yes, I would.

The least expensive way to get an autopsy (or whatever they call it with chickens) is probably to call your county extension agency, in the phone book under county governnment. Each state is different, but they will know the least expensive way for you to get it done. I don't think it is very expensive here. They want to find and quickly stop any disease outbreak in the area.