Why are my meat birds dying? (GRAPHIC)

[christatothemax]

I bought Cornish Cross Broilers. Started out with 26 and in about 5 weeks I am down to 18.

One died when they were babies, they all had pasty butt within the first weeks and it was suffering so I relieved its pain.

Three died about a couple weeks later. No idea why. Just found them on their backs.

Couple more a week later.

I found another dead a couple days ago. I think heat stroke or something as it was really really hot out.

I found another dead today. I had done a lot of research on all these deaths and figured maybe they had a parasite in their throat, or worms, or something. So, I took one apart... Still don't know. Any ideas?

Fresh water daily, eat a layer feed, plenty of space, access to outside, keep track of temp and humidity and other than that one days it's been fine.

Photos are graphic and in comments.

 

[christatothemax]

This is the body, before I dissected it.

 

[christatothemax]

Mouth / throat.

 

[christatothemax]

Insides. It was FULL of this yellow liquid that didn't appear to come from me puncturing anything... The heart looked fine? The lung and heart were bigger than I expected, but I've never dissected a meat bird before just a layer. Feet looked fine. One toe top was missing because it was injured when it was a baby. It was eating well, gizzard was full of well-grinded food.

 

[christatothemax]

Is this thing a worm of some sort? Or just part of the anatomy?

 

[416bigbore]

Help Doctor 0. @Isaac 0

 

[416bigbore]

IMO, Dr. 0 is a specialist in this type of poultry issues. Great pictures by the way ! Might want to attach Graphic images for those who think their chicken comes from the supermarket. Good luck.

 

[NatJ]

eat a layer feed

Layer feed is not the best choice--has too much calcium. (They might well have died from something else, but the extra calcium is not doing them any good.)

 

[christatothemax]

Layer feed is not the best choice--has too much calcium. (They might well have died from something else, but the extra calcium is not doing them any good.)

They are in with the layer hens. So, instead of the layer hens not getting enough calcium, we feed them all the layer rations. Any suggestions?

 

[christatothemax]

IMO, Dr. 0 is a specialist in this type of poultry issues. Great pictures by the way ! Might want to attach Graphic images for those who think their chicken comes from the supermarket. Good luck.

I have "GRAPHIC" in the subject line for that very reason. And put the images in the comments instead of the thread for that very reason.