Sudden Chicken Death Syndrome?

[casportpony]

Where do you live?

-Kathy

 

[9pines]

I live in Upstate NY

 

[casportpony]

There are a couple of labs n New York that can probably do necropsies. Many states do them for free or a small fee, so call them.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

This is how I send mine for necropsy:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

-Kathy

 

[Sash Ranch]

So, I went out to the coop today and found one of our black sex link hens dead under the roost in the coop. She was just over a year old and showed no signs of illness. I cut her open to see if I could determine what was going on and she had NO BREAST MUSCLE!

Her crop was very full and her abdomen was full of fluid. I think she may have had a digestive issue or something and wasn't getting any nutrients, so her body started to eat her muscle. It was the craziest thing I have ever seen!

 

[casportpony]

Sorry for your loss... Sounds like she had ascites.

-Kathy

 

[Sash Ranch]

Maybe....it looks like that is a high altitude thing (we're in Colorado). She had plenty of good ventilation, so who knows. I am worming the rest to be sure it wasn't worms, but I checked the rest of the flock and they all seem fine. That is to say, they all have breast muscles..... Very odd indeed

 

[appleintoes]

I am so glad you have a GREAT sense of humor. This is my first set of chickens i have ever owned and ive been having the time of my life these last six weeks. as of yesterday and today i have lost 3 out of six and ive been really upset. but reading your comment boosted my spirits A LOT so i had to say thank you. i was a bit discouraged and thought i did something wrong. but i guess i feel a little better knowing its sudden death and not something i did.

 

[Courtney R]

I'm having the same problem with my baby chickies, they are about a month old and one died a day after it was acting a little off and now one is sorta doing the same thing...

 

[casportpony]

I'm having the same problem with my baby chickies, they are about a month old and one died a day after it was acting a little off and now one is sorta doing the same thing...

You might want to start a new thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/threads/add/forumId/10

-Kathy