Sudden death diagnosed

[tomphot]

Yesterday, my 1 year old Welsummer was acting normal in the morning, laid an egg around 1:00. I went to check them out around 3:00 and she was sitting and panting - 2 hours later she was dead. I brought her to the Georgia Poultry Lab this morning. (https://www.gapoultrylab.org/) (free Necrospy and diagnosis). I just got the results as follows -
""Bird was extremely obese and had a fatty, ruptured
liver; I suggest feeding your remaining chickens a diet
higher in protein and lower in carbs (no scratch feed or
cracked corn- just feed a commercial chicken diet)""
My 8 hens are kept in a 600 sq ft run + coop. During their 1 year of life, every day after they've been full grown, I have been treating them with maybe 2 cups of dried meal-worms and a couple hand fulls of scratch.
Have my actions caused this or can it be hereditary?
Feed has been Purina Layena Omega Plus.

 

[rebrascora]

It's hard to figure out exactly what two handfuls of scratch equates to volume wise... as it would depend on your hand size and whether it was scooped or just grasped but I would say that the scratch is most likely your problem. That said, 2 cups of dried mealworms seems excessive too, although at least it is higher in protein than carbohydrate, which is what causes the fatty liver issue.
I give 11 hens less than half of that amount of scratch and I ferment it, which helps to break down the carbohydrates. I would certainly reduce the amount of scratch you are feeding or cut it out altogether since you are already treating them to meal worms daily, but I would reduce those to 1 cup or less and make the Purina Layena their main source of food. If you are filling them up with too many treats, they will not eat as much of their nutritionally balanced food and perhaps end up lacking a vital nutrient, or as you have found, develop obesity. Of course, some hens will be more prone to this than others, so yes there is a genetic element, heavier breeds like welsummers and sussex will be more likely to suffer it as they are less active and therefore don't burn off those carbohydrates like a more active/flighty bird like a leghorn.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Have my actions caused this or can it be hereditary?

Maybe, maybe not, its just according to how and what you have been feeding them(think about a obese child---weighs 400lbs at 14 yrs old--who's fault is that??

I been raising chickens for over 50 years and have never had "obese" hens that I knew about----to me Obese means Over Weight. If you feed a lot of cracked corn/scratch---that is not good, but if you feed them that and they free ranged all the time they probably would not eat "a lot" of that and would get a lot of exercise. If yours stay penned up and eat a lot of fattening food with no exercise---that might not be good.

I have never bought dried meal worms---is 2 cups to much?? My hens just get 15/16% layer or a mixture where they are at that percentage, Sure I give them some snacks at times but most of their feed is "feed".

 

[Abriana]

Two cups per day? If so, yes. thats too much. Fat birds are never happy birds. I wouldn't give too many treats, and i would cut down. Maybe two cups per two or three weeks spread out would be better. The hens will thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry to hear of your hen's death, but good that you got a necropsy. Fatty liver hemorrhagic disease can be hereditary in some breeds, is only seen in hens, is thought to be caused by increased estrogen levels, and can be caused by feeding less than 17% protein and too many carbs, such as with scratch or corn. Getting them out to free range and exercise can help to lessen the occurence.

 

[Kiki]

You may find this an interesting read:http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production

I personally have never even purchase scratch or corn.

 

[ronott1]

Yesterday, my 1 year old Welsummer was acting normal in the morning, laid an egg around 1:00. I went to check them out around 3:00 and she was sitting and panting - 2 hours later she was dead. I brought her to the Georgia Poultry Lab this morning. (https://www.gapoultrylab.org/) (free Necrospy and diagnosis). I just got the results as follows -
""Bird was extremely obese and had a fatty, ruptured
liver; I suggest feeding your remaining chickens a diet
higher in protein and lower in carbs (no scratch feed or
cracked corn- just feed a commercial chicken diet)""
My 8 hens are kept in a 600 sq ft run + coop. During their 1 year of life, every day after they've been full grown, I have been treating them with maybe 2 cups of dried meal-worms and a couple hand fulls of scratch.
Have my actions caused this or can it be hereditary?
Feed has been Purina Layena Omega Plus.

I had this happen with one of my Australorps. From researching fatty liver, it is more related to a very good egg laying hen and genetics. Some breeds are prone to this.

Feeding good layer feed is perfect and a bit of scratch if fine. Giving them some kale several times a week is also very good for them.

Do not blame yourself for this as it was likely not your fault at all. Yes, it is a lot hereditary.

 

[tomphot]

This is the treat they've been getting. Not really just corn scratch.

 

[rebrascora]

Yes that is what we call mixed corn here in the UK, but what I understand to be referred to as scratch in the US and too much is bad for them. I butchered some hens for my neighbour who fed his hens too much and they were also shockingly obese with thick fatty deposits around many of their organs. They were heavier breeds(light sussex and langshans) and confined to a pen, so didn't get a lot of exercise and the carbohydrates were just converted to fat deposits. The reason he wanted them butchered was because they were not laying well, but that was partly because of their poor diet and obesity.
It's very easy to feed too many treats like scratch. I still have to consciously think about it on a daily basis and reduce what I give my hens, because they enjoy it so much and of course we love to treat them, but butchering his hens taught me a lesson and I have that vision of all that thick yellow fat now and that helps me cut it down.

 

[tomphot]

Thanks all - the treating routine will be cut way down