Unexpected death! Help!!

[MiBirds]

One of my chickens unexpectedly died today. We’re worried for the rest of the flock and would like to know why she died.
She’s a buff orphington.
I’m assuming we’re going to have to find a place to perform a necropsy. What do I need to do with her body in the mean time since it’s night and I won’t be able to go tonight to ensure that I can have this done? Should I put her in the freezer?

Thanks so much to anyone who replies.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Keep the body refrigerated (not frozen).
Thanks for providing your location in your profile.
Here are your state poultry labs. If they are far from you, some may send you a FedEx label for the carcass.

Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
The University of Georgia
501 D.W. Brooks Drive
Athens, Georgia 30602-5023
Phone: 706-542-5568

Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network
3235 Abit Massey Way
Gainesville, Georgia 30507-7745
Phone: 770-766-6810

University of Georgia Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
43 Brighton Road
Tifton, Georgia 31793-3000
Phone: 229-386-3340

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately chickens drop dead sometimes. My guess is most are from heart attacks or something like fatty liver. I generally don't worry unless multiple birds die from the same symptoms. @casportpony I believe knows where birds can be sent for testing.

 

[bobbi-j]

Unfortunately chickens drop dead sometimes. My guess is most are from heart attacks or something like fatty liver. I generally don't worry unless multiple birds die from the same symptoms. @casportpony I believe knows where birds can be sent for testing.

I am the same. The occasional death happens now and then. Several dropping dead in a short period of time - especially if they all had similar symptoms - would worry me. I would probably look into it then.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMO, it depends on how valuable one's chickens are. When I had a lot of breeds, I would do a home posting. Now that I have only one extremely rare breed, I need conclusive proof of why a bird died. I can't afford to lose a single bird. I always send them to the vet school now.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

IMO, it depends on how valuable one's chickens are. When I had a lot of breeds, I would do a home posting. Now that I have only one extremely rare breed, I need conclusive proof of why a bird died. I can't afford to lose a single bird. I always send them to the vet school now.

It is definitely a personal decision on how important the answers are of why a bird died.

 

[bobbi-j]

IMO, it depends on how valuable one's chickens are. When I had a lot of breeds, I would do a home posting. Now that I have only one extremely rare breed, I need conclusive proof of why a bird died. I can't afford to lose a single bird. I always send them to the vet school now.

In your situation, I understand that.

 

[rebrascora]

If this bird dies from Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic syndrome and it is as a result of a dietary imbalance then having a necropsy could help the OP to change their flock's diet and perhaps prevent another death. If they are pets or valuable breeding stock, it is worth the effort. If they are livestock obviously there is less imperative as the necropsy is usually more expensive than replacing the chicken.

@MiBirds

If you get a necropsy done will you let us know the result. Asothers have said, the carcass needs to be double bagged and refrigerated and sent on ice I believe but the relevant Diagnostics lab should be able to advise you about postage when you contact them. If the logistics of sending the carcass for necropsy become too expensive or complicated (some labs insist that the bird is sent via a veterinary practice which can greatly add to the cost), do you feel able to open the bird up yourself and take a look inside. If so, take lots of photos and post them here and we will try to help you figure it out. Something like Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome is fairly easy to spot and larger birds like Orpingtons are more prone to it.

It may be worth assessing your flock's diet in the mean time. What do you feed them?.... Main feed and treats, how much and between how many? It may seem unlikely that a minor dietary imbalance can cause sudden death in an apparently healthy hen, but it happens all too often.

 

[MiBirds]

If this bird dies from Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic syndrome and it is as a result of a dietary imbalance then having a necropsy could help the OP to change their flock's diet and perhaps prevent another death. If they are pets or valuable breeding stock, it is worth the effort. If they are livestock obviously there is less imperative as the necropsy is usually more expensive than replacing the chicken.

@MiBirds

If you get a necropsy done will you let us know the result. Asothers have said, the carcass needs to be double bagged and refrigerated and sent on ice I believe but the relevant Diagnostics lab should be able to advise you about postage when you contact them. If the logistics of sending the carcass for necropsy become too expensive or complicated (some labs insist that the bird is sent via a veterinary practice which can greatly add to the cost), do you feel able to open the bird up yourself and take a look inside. If so, take lots of photos and post them here and we will try to help you figure it out. Something like Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome is fairly easy to spot and larger birds like Orpingtons are more prone to it.

It may be worth assessing your flock's diet in the mean time. What do you feed them?.... Main feed and treats, how much and between how many? It may seem unlikely that a minor dietary imbalance can cause sudden death in an apparently healthy hen, but it happens all too often.

I honestly don’t think the food we feed them had to do with it, because we’ve been feeding my chickens the same food for years. It’s the Purina Layena Plus Omega-3. We give them fresh fruits and vegetables every other day too.
We found someone to get her to to do the necropsy tomorrow.

 

[MiBirds]

We found someone to get her tomorrow to do the necropsy on.