Sudden hen death, no apparent cause, what do I look for in a necropsy?

[JlovesPHXtheGSD]

I just found my last bielefelder in the same manor!! No wounds just on her belly in the coop with her head laid down. I got mine from valley hatchery. She was only 7 months.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I just found my last bielefelder in the same manor!! No wounds just on her belly in the coop with her head laid down. I got mine from valley hatchery. She was only 7 months.

I'm so sorry you lost someone, too. The two I lost were around that age. Strange coincidence.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

It would be well worth it to send her to your state lab to find out the reason. There could be something that you can change/do to prevent more deaths.

You guys are right. I wish I had. I was so upset I didn't even think of that. I looked it up and the state lab is even within driving distance of where we live. I could have just driven her there.

Hope's death bothered me a lot but it was possible it was just a one-off. Now with Maria gone, too, I feel like I failed the two of them. Knowing the cause of Maria's death would have been important information. I'm usually so happy to visit the flock, even when doing an ice run in 108F heat, but now when I go out to the pen I brace myself and scan quickly for any deceased birds.

On the camera replay, right after Maria died one of her sisters, Carmel, lay down next to her. She has been calling out to Maria in the most mournful way all morning. It breaks my heart to hear her.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

Sorry for your loss. I lost my favorite not too long ago. The other two ladies were calling for her and i broke down and brought the deceased chicken back in and showed her to them (she had died from cancer, nothing contagious). After they examined her and her bestie tried to groom her like they always did for eachother--she realized something was different and slowly walked off. They havent called anymore since but you can tell it left a void in the flock. They act totally different without their friend.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree with @Kiki and @Eggcessive. Any time one loses chickens in short order for an unknown reason, it is time for a professional necropsy. Not doing so is gambling.
In my state, and I believe in most states, the animal diagnostic lab will provide a FedEx label to ship the carcass if the distance is too far for you. I think they include the cost in the final bill.
Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
2831 North Freeway
Tucson, Arizona 85705-5021
Phone: 520-621-2356

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Sorry for your loss. I lost my favorite not too long ago. The other two ladies were calling for her and i broke down and brought the deceased chicken back in and showed her to them (she had died from cancer, nothing contagious). After they examined her and her bestie tried to groom her like they always did for eachother--she realized something was different and slowly walked off. They havent called anymore since but you can tell it left a void in the flock. They act totally different without their friend.

I'm sorry for your loss, too. Letting the rest of the flock see that someone has passed on is compassionate, in my opinion. Herd/flock animals seem to struggle more when a member of their group just disappears than when they can see someone has passed away. Horses and dogs also need to know that a companion has died instead of just vanished, too. They have their own way of processing death which is different from processing a disappearance.

When I was a girl we took an elderly cat to the vet to be euthanized. Our dog searched for her for weeks after that. They hadn't even been particularly friendly with each other but the dog clearly missed her and wondered what happened.

My theory is that when a group member disappears that indicates to the remaining animals the possible presence of a predator. The herd or flock goes into a stressful alarm state.

On the other hand, when they can see their companion, see that they've passed, assuming there's no blood or other indicators of an attack, they process it and move on. There's sadness and mourning but not stress or alarm.

I'm pretty sure Carmel knew Maria had died. On the playback she lay next to her for a while, then moved away. I think she is just missing her sister today.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I agree with @Kiki and @Eggcessive. Any time one loses chickens in short order for an unknown reason, it is time for a professional necropsy. Not doing so is gambling.
In my state, and I believe in most states, the animal diagnostic lab will provide a FedEx label to ship the carcass if the distance is too far for you. I think they include the cost in the final bill.
Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
2831 North Freeway
Tucson, Arizona 85705-5021
Phone: 520-621-2356

You're right. I think they also offer a courier service but we're fortunate in that the lab is an adjunct of the veterinary program at University of Arizona. It's close enough to our home that I could drive there. I'm really regretting I didn't take her there.

It's not cheap, fees start at $250 and I just purchased another fridge to replace the one that died. Admittedly it was on its last legs but we were hoping to coax a few more months out of it and buy a replacement in the spring, oh well. So cash is low at the moment but I would have paid for the necropsy if I had thought of it.

 

[Eggcessive]

AZ is one of the more expensive states for a necropsy. California does 2 a year for about $30. My state quoted me $23 a couple of years ago for one if I drove the body in, but they have to send your results to your local vet, so they can explain results to you. I felt like I knew more about a chicken necropsy than my vet. I’m not sure if you can send one to a neighboring state or not.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

At Mizzou (U of MO) it always cost about $100 or a bit more.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

I'm sorry for your loss, too. Letting the rest of the flock see that someone has passed on is compassionate, in my opinion. Herd/flock animals seem to struggle more when a member of their group just disappears than when they can see someone has passed away. Horses and dogs also need to know that a companion has died instead of just vanished, too. They have their own way of processing death which is different from processing a disappearance.

When I was a girl we took an elderly cat to the vet to be euthanized. Our dog searched for her for weeks after that. They hadn't even been particularly friendly with each other but the dog clearly missed her and wondered what happened.

My theory is that when a group member disappears that indicates to the remaining animals the possible presence of a predator. The herd or flock goes into a stressful alarm state.

On the other hand, when they can see their companion, see that they've passed, assuming there's no blood or other indicators of an attack, they process it and move on. There's sadness and mourning but not stress or alarm.

I'm pretty sure Carmel knew Maria had died. On the playback she lay next to her for a while, then moved away. I think she is just missing her sister today.

Poor thing!