We lost our first chicken.

[Jerrod Davis]

We have had our flock for 2 months (inherited it from the previous landowners when we moved). Our Buff Orpington (buffy) had been a model of health. About a week ago we noticed one of her wattles was swollen and had a dark red/purplish spot on it. We got some silver ointment to put on it and it took the swelling down. Yesterday she was more active and actually ate some food and drank her water with electrolytes. Last night we noticed she was not moving around and just sitting under our shop overhang (it has been raining, so wasn't too surprising). Our other chickens were out and about foraging but she wasn't. I knew something was up so I put her in our shop, in a crate, with hay, water, and food. This morning she was dead. Aside from taking her to a vet (which I don't know if any around here actually practice on chickens) was there anything that we did wrong? My wife is torn up over it, as I knew she would be, and I am sad, but I grew up on a farm and losing livestock was just a part of having livestock. Still, I want to know if there is anything we should have/haven't done in this case?

Thanks,

Jerrod

 

[Kiki]

I am sorry for your loss.
Do you know the age of your hen?

Sending her body for a necropsy is the best thing, imo, to find out what happened to her.
What state are you in?
List of Poultry Necropsy Labs by State – Heritage Acres Market LLC

 

[Jerrod Davis]

From what the previous owners told us, they were 2 years old.

We live in Oklahoma.

Aside from the swollen wattle, I haven't noticed anything else. After I take our little one in to daycare I am going to look over the carcass and see if there was anything I missed as far as lesions, marks, etc.

 

[Jerrod Davis]

Department of Ag just came and picked up the chicken since there were symptoms associated with Avian Influenza. I do not think it was that, but we should get the necropsy report by next week. Sad to lose a chicken so soon, and hopefully it wasn't something we did or didn't do that caused it.

 

[sawilliams]

Unfortunately some do die rather unexpectedly. Chances are you did nothing wrong and ahe just didn't show signs of illness untill it was already to late. Sorry for your loss i hope you get aanswers soon

 

[pennyJo1960]

would first like to say but am very sorry for your loss there me hopes you do not get bad news back on her demise

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Very sorry to hear of your hen's death. A necropsy hopefully will help to solve the mystery. Several things can cause swollen wattles, such as a tick bite (which may cause bruising as well,) fowl cholera, and infectious coryza. In freezing winter weather, frostbite is also a culprit. I really hope this is not something contagious, and that your other chickens will be fine. AI is pretty rare, but there are occasionally outbreaks in flocks from wild migrating waterfowl. If you get more info on the cause, please update this thread.

 

[Kiki]

Department of Ag just came and picked up the chicken since there were symptoms associated with Avian Influenza. I do not think it was that, but we should get the necropsy report by next week. Sad to lose a chicken so soon, and hopefully it wasn't something we did or didn't do that caused it.

What did the necropsy find?

 

[Jerrod Davis]

Liver necrosis... no clue why or how but that was cause of death.

 

[Kiki]

Liver necrosis... no clue why or how but that was cause of death.

Here are two common causes:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22039773

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/184/necrotic-enteritis/

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...f-fatty-liver-hemorrhagic-syndrome-in-poultry