Sudden Death - Poisoned?

[doc39rob]

I had a pullet, yesterday, have breathing issues with obvious labored breathing, beak open. After 15 minutes she promptly died. I have 27 other pullets and hens. None of them show any signs or symptoms of distress. Could this one pullet have been prisoned? This will be our 3rd pullet who died this way. Living in Montana, there are no vets that specialize in chickens, so I cannot take her to get looked at for an autopsy. She was healthy and our prize winning pullet in our State Fair in 2021.

Thoughts?

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I had a pullet, yesterday, have breathing issues with obvious labored breathing, beak open. After 15 minutes she promptly died. I have 27 other pullets and hens. None of them show any signs or symptoms of distress. Could this one pullet have been prisoned? This will be our 3rd pullet who died this way. Living in Montana, there are no vets that specialize in chickens, so I cannot take her to get looked at for an autopsy. She was healthy and our prize winning pullet in our State Fair in 2021.

Thoughts?

I'm so sorry for your loss. Animals are very good at hiding illness until they physically can't anymore, especially birds and prey animals.

You won't know for sure what happened unless you get a necropsy done. I believe most states provide a service for it.

https://liv.mt.gov/Diagnostic-Lab/

 

[Hannahnic14]

I'm so sorry for your loss Any nasal discharge or bubbly eyes? How close together did you loss the other pullets?

 

[Battlepants]

Had a similar situation with our Barred Rock. Didn't notice an issue until she physically could not get on the roost bars anymore. From what I put together, she had an impacted crop.

Thinking back, the only noticeable symptom I got from her prior to this event was that she wasn't really keeping up with the rest of the flock and would self isolate at times. So, moral of the story, if you can't get the body in for an autopsy, at least keep an eye on the rest of your flock for behavioral and eating changes.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sorry about your loss.
If you still have the body, refrigerate it and make arrangements to send it to your state lab for testing. Links below.

If you are unable to send a body to your lab, another option would be to perform your own necropsy and see if there's anything obvious. Take photos, we may be able to I.D. a few things. Heart, liver disease, reproductive problems, etc.


https://liv.mt.gov/Diagnostic-Lab/
Montana Department of Livestock
Diagnostic Laboratory Division
P.O. Box 997
Bozeman, MT 59771 US
406-994-4885
fax: 406-994-6344