WHAT KILLED LOLA?

[Geri Taran]

One of my beautiful Americaunas died today after she showed green poop and confusion for a couple of days. We tried our usual apple cider vinegar treatment (no cayenne this time) but it didn't help. A friend said it might have been e coli but that doesn't make sense. The "girls" have a private residence (coop) in my gated, secluded and organic back yard. There's clean sand for their "baths", they get fresh scraps from the kitchen, always have clean water and they get to hunt for fresh worms for a little while each day, this in addition to their organic feed. They have access to the compost pile but there are no harmful things in it. So, new friends, what do you think? Are the others in danger? Were Lola's eggs safe?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Confusion generally means they aren't eating and internal organs are shutting down.

Other options are Mareks or botulism.

You would need a proper necropsy to determine the real reason for her death, everything else is just guesses. ACV isn't a treatment, and can actually keep chickens from consuming enough water, especially if they don't like the taste of it.

 

[Geri Taran]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. We're careful about the ACV quantity and have never had a dehydration problem but for the future I'm glad to know it is a possibility.

I agree... chickens and dogs, etc.

 

[SethJ]

sounds like Botulism,...I've had some with it before. Terrible. Summer usually.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old was she? Refrigerating the body, and sending her off to the state vet on ice packs would be the way to diagnose her. The compost pile sounds like a possibility for a problem. Coccidiosis can make them sleepy, weak, have diarrhea, hunched or puffed up, and have a poor appetite. Worms sometimes may be a cause. More often, are crop impactions or gizzard blockages. If you still have her body, and can open her abdomen, you can sometimes look at organs, open the gizzard, the crop, look for a stuck egg, and if done early, can see coccidiosis or worms. Take pictures of what is found, and post here for more info. Very sorry for your loss. Here is some info:
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-to-perform-necropsy-autopsy-on.html
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm