What illness killed my hen?

[jenni2142]

I had 2 d'Anver hens kept in a cage in the house. Fed layer crumble and straw in nest box. Poo has been normal and they have been eating and drinking okay, laying about every other day. Daisy seemed sluggish this morning and comb was a little pale. I just looked over and she was in the nest box with her head rolled straight back touching her back struggling to breathe through what sounded like fluid. She then started to thrash around and of course we ended her suffering. I just held her a few hours ago and her breathing was fine. She has been a little fluffed for about a week now but would perk up after being outside for a while so I thought maybe she just needed more sun until today and I thought maybe worms and was planning to treat tomorrow. She had fluid leaking from her vent but only just now. She hadn't lost any weight and no discharge from nostrils or anything. Any ideas on what could have caused this? Her coop mate seems fine but if I can figure out what it was maybe I can treat Rose if she starts to show symptoms or any of the others.

 

[chickeepoo]

I'm so sorry for your loss-

I have no idea what those symptoms indicate, but there are people here with more experience with various diseases that can chime in.
I think I'm probably just days or hours from the end with a hen I thought was working her way back to health, and my heart goes out to you.

 

[jenni2142]

thank you. right now my biggest fear is loosing another. Poor Rose looks so lost but just as healthy as ever. I am so lucky my hubby takes care of the end for me, and am grateful everyone on here understands how much this hurts.

 

[countrybum]

I would have to say it was Mareks disease, due to the pale comb. Here is a sight that may help you.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS044

 

[chickeepoo]

Good Hubby to take care of that… I haven't had to cull any birds yet, but I read the entire thread on this site yesterday. None of the options seem like something I'd want to do, but I realize there are times when it has to be done despite heartbreak and queasiness. I think I can ask my hubby to take care of it if the time comes, but I have been alone once before when I had to take our cat to be euthanized a few years back. Of course, I'm still not completely over that…

 

[jenni2142]

I'm pretty sure she wasn't vaccinated but I would have expected more symptoms. Her comb only became pale a few hours before the end and no paralysis. Her head was only tilted back in an attempt to breathe. She sounded like her lungs were full of fluid and it happened within a couple of hours. No other pale combs or unusual behavior in any of the others. I think she was about 8-9 months old. Is there anything that causes the lungs to fill with fluid so quickly?