Sudden death

[mclanea]

Checked on them last night in the coop and everyone was tucked in, totally normal. This morning only 4 came out of the run to free range. Checked in the coop and found an 11 month old Crested Legbar dead in the nesting box. (RIP Walnut, you were a pretty girl.)

She wasn't attacked, while not as bulky as the other 4, she was actually my most active and rascally bird. The 3 older RIR weren't particularly fond of her but things were never all that violent, just squabbles. She was the reason they weren't allowed to free range much anymore as she'd fly over the fence into the garden in search of grubs and her sister would follow. No signs of illness or lethargy. Just normal yesterday evening, on her roost about 8 when I checked on them, and dead in the nesting box in the morning.

Anything I should do as a precaution for the other 4? I've never done a dewormer but maybe just do it out of precaution?

Laying for the whole flock has slowed down but I figured that was just part of winter and molting and all that. No food, water issues...everything is the same as ever.

Thoughts? Tips?

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

That's a hard one, with no symptoms...did you check her vent? Maybe a problem with laying?
Just grasping for straws, my line of reasoning is that she was in the nest box.
So it's just a starting point....

 

[mclanea]

That's a hard one, with no symptoms...did you check her vent? Maybe a problem with laying?
Just grasping for straws, my line of reasoning is that she was in the nest box.
So it's just a starting point....

I didn't do a huge exam since I don't really know what I'm doing. But I checked the vent and didn't see any problems. She seemed really clean when I looked at her underside. The nesting box part was a bit odd though I'd seen her sleeping there before. There are 5 birds with 2 roosts and she wasn't allowed on the roost she wanted to be on so would sometimes sleep in the box next to where she wanted to sleep. Hardly seems fatal.

I guess I'm just looking for tips on what I should do for the rest of the flock. They don't seem nearly as emotionally attached to her as I am, have just kind of gone about their day.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I'm honestly not sure... sometimes it just happens. Do you have oyster shell out for them? At this point, I'd say just watch for symptoms and be sure they are getting what they need nutritionally.
I'm sorry I'm not more help....

 

[mclanea]

I'm honestly not sure... sometimes it just happens. Do you have oyster shell out for them? At this point, I'd say just watch for symptoms and be sure they are getting what they need nutritionally.
I'm sorry I'm not more help....

Yeah, they have oyster shell available. I've ordered some electrolyte/vitamins for them just to pep 'em up a bit. Guess I'll just hope it doesn't spread.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Are any of the others acting off? Pale Combs, dull feathers, runny nose or eyes, poop normal?

 

[Below frigid]

Exact same thing happened to us a few weeks ago. It seems from what I have read it is not that uncommon. Mine had laid the day before, checked her over and she was about to lay again. I squeezed gently and the egg came out but was not pigmented yet so she was not bound. Poor Buffy, RIP

 

[rebrascora]

I'm sorry for your loss.
A necropsy really is the only way to get an answer. Either sending her off for a professional post mortem examination or opening her up yourself.... not something everyone can get their head around, I know, but it can be very helpful in terms of improving your knowledge and possibly flock management, if you have an enquiring mind. You could check for a stuck egg, worms, body condition ie lots of fat and possibly fluid would suggest a change of diet for the flock would be beneficial. Skinny might suggest a crop impaction or a disease like Marek's. Tumours speak for themselves. You could photograph pictures of her internal organs and anything that looks unusual and post them here on BYC. There are some threads where we share and discuss our necropsy photos and findings, so that we can come up with a probably cause of death and learn from each other.
It is surprising how many times you can pin point a cause of death even with no medical training and the more you do or see, the more you learn what is normal and what isn't..... anyway, that is my input.... without you being able to describe any symptoms, her carcass is the only clue to what may have killed her.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I'm sorry for your loss.
A necropsy really is the only way to get an answer. Either sending her off for a professional post mortem examination or opening her up yourself.... not something everyone can get their head around, I know, but it can be very helpful in terms of improving your knowledge and possibly flock management, if you have an enquiring mind. You could check for a stuck egg, worms, body condition ie lots of fat and possibly fluid would suggest a change of diet for the flock would be beneficial. Skinny might suggest a crop impaction or a disease like Marek's. Tumours speak for themselves. You could photograph pictures of her internal organs and anything that looks unusual and post them here on BYC. There are some threads where we share and discuss our necropsy photos and findings, so that we can come up with a probably cause of death and learn from each other.
It is surprising how many times you can pin point a cause of death even with no medical training and the more you do or see, the more you learn what is normal and what isn't..... anyway, that is my input.... without you being able to describe any symptoms, her carcass is the only clue to what may have killed her.

X2

 

[juanmmg54]

Cual era su peso, ¿normal ? o sobre peso. Importante la necropsia, según lo cuenta parece un infarto, muy habitual en Broiler, por exceso de peso.