WH dropped dead

[MerryMeridional]

Hello... I had 6 WH from Holderread's, 3 male/3 female, added to existing 4 female flock. They are just now maturing, brought them home mid March 2020. (I know I need to get rid of 2 of the drakes.)

I had one female drop dead early this morning, found her when I let them out in the morning, she wasn't stiff yet. No signs of abuse/overmating (and I haven't seen anyone trying mating behavior yet). I think that she choked one something.

Here is a picture I took of them the day before. See the one making a motion with her head? I think that's the same one who died, she has a more cinnamon colored head.
That's why I think she choked to death. I didn't notice any other problems with her the previous day and she seemed to be eating and drinking fine. They have access to water they can get their head in.

I opened her mouth up wide, pulled her tongue out a bit and shined a light in there. Can't see anything visibly stuck.

It starts at $120 for a necropsy so unless another drops dead, I am thinking against that...

Anyone have any thoughts on the subject?

Really disappointed at this loss. I was so excited to have started my Holderread flock... Sad to see her go.

 

[EverythingDucks]

I'm so sorry. It must be hard for it to be so of a sudden.
@Isaac 0 @Miss Lydia what do y'all think?

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry for your loss.

Sadly diagnosing solely based on symptoms, for most cases, will prove to be ineffective and unreliable, so if you really want to know what happened to her, you'll need to send her body to your state veterinary necropsy lab for examination.

If I were to take a guess based on her symptoms, I would say either aspiration pneumonia, or that she got something stuck in her throat.

Did she exhibit any other signs? When did this start?

 

[Ratchnick]

Is the cost of necropsy from your vet? Many states offer free necropsy through the state vet.

 

[Isaac 0]

The test cost for a "Necropsy - Small Ag Animal (poultry, farmed fish, etc)" in Oregon is approx 52.00$

https://vetmed.oregonstate.edu/diagnostic/tests/necropsy-small-ag-animal-poultry-farmed-fish-etc

 

[MerryMeridional]

Sorry for your loss.

Sadly diagnosing solely based on symptoms, for most cases, will prove to be ineffective and unreliable, so if you really want to know what happened to her, you'll need to send her body to your state veterinary necropsy lab for examination.

If I were to take a guess based on her symptoms, I would say either aspiration pneumonia, or that she got something stuck in her throat.

Did she exhibit any other signs? When did this start?

I saw her making a motion with her head and quacking the morning before. She did it maybe 3 times but then she was acting 100% normal after that... running around, eating and drinking. So I thought little of it.

The test cost for a "Necropsy - Small Ag Animal (poultry, farmed fish, etc)" in Oregon is approx 52.00$

https://vetmed.oregonstate.edu/diagnostic/tests/necropsy-small-ag-animal-poultry-farmed-fish-etc

The $120 was through my vet to send her off. It might be a little cheaper to send off myself but not much once buying packing material and shipping is factored in.

I messed up first of all by not thinking and disposing of her corpse in the outside trash on a hot day. But secondly I am home alone with an infant and no working car.

If something happens to another I will be sure to refrigerate her. I don't want to lose the whole flock.

This morning I'm seeing another WH duck sneezing. Like 4 back to back little sneezes two different times within 10min. She is acting normal otherwise but I am worried about something being contagious now.

Thoughts on how to proceed?

 

[Ratchnick]

I would not worry to much about just sneezing