Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[wyoDreamer]

Sorry, necropsy is an autopsy on an animal.

 

[CherMoz]

So sorry for your loss Firstchick.

 

[Firstchic]

When you say 'she was jerking her head' do you mean side to side, like a quick little twitch?

Kind of like a quick twitch, but, she did it continuously about four/five times and then stop.

 

[Firstchic]

Sorry, necropsy is an autopsy on an animal.

I did look it up, even saw photos, my DS thinks it would take the chickens dignity away. We should just let her die in dignity. So, he said instead we should put her in a bag and throw her in the trash. I told him if I could not do a necropsy, he could not de-dignify her and he had to dig a hole and bury her.

 

[Firstchic]

Ok, so now I am thinking: Should I change and disinfect everything in my coop, like roof, walls, roost, egg laying places, since I don't know why Skuzzybutt died?

 

[bigzio]

Light Rainy Day Here.... yep, some of the chickens don't have that longevity gene to keep them going. If you raise chickens, then you can expect losses. It just happens, and not necessarily a disease going through the flock....keeping a clean environment for the birds is worth more than any cure you need when something does arise. I always bury my losses....and if it's winter and frozen ground, they go into a five gallon pail with cover til the ground is soft in the Spring.

bigz

 

[Firstchic]

Light Rainy Day Here.... yep, some of the chickens don't have that longevity gene to keep them going. If you raise chickens, then you can expect losses. It just happens, and not necessarily a disease going through the flock....keeping a clean environment for the birds is worth more than any cure you need when something does arise. I always bury my losses....and if it's winter and frozen ground, they go into a five gallon pail with cover til the ground is soft in the Spring.

bigz

Thanks for that tip on 5 gal pail.....I just changed the bedding in the coop, but, this morning, I noticed a blackish area under the hen when she moved out of the nest. I covered it up with that stuff I put in the nest.....but, now I'm thinking I should clean it all out and disinfect the whole thing.....they have to go back in right away, so nothing toxic smelling.

 

[bigzio]

I would make sure it's not black mold....that will kill a chicken if they peck at it and eat some.

bigz

 

[Firstchic]

I would make sure it's not black mold....that will kill a chicken if they peck at it and eat some.

bigz

No, it was something that came out of her. It was not there last night.

 

[Huntress78]

Quote: I'm sorry for your loss. I'm also sorry I can't tell you what was wrong with your hen but I've been battling the same symptoms in my flock for months. Here, the head twitch/ shake is in response to noise...the sound of my voice or vocalizations from the other birds. The other symptom is chronic diarrhea.
I've sent one bird to the state lab for necropsy with mixed results. The only thing that 'might' have been a problem was E.Coli. I had a veterinarian friend do two in-house necropsies...one bird had liver damage, the other egg peritonitis. I've done at least four home necropsies finding another damaged liver with lesions and more egg peritonitis. I recently sent another bird to the state lab and am waiting for results....when I get the report back I'll let you know what I find.