Yellow fluid inside meat birds

[Jarv]

My meat birds are 6 1/2 weeks old and they are dying. I have lost three in the last four days. Since one died right before my eyes, I figured she was fresh enough to butcher. When I cut her open, her body cavity was full of bright yellow, watery fluid and a yellow gel that almost looked like a broken egg yolk (not that it was, it's just what it reminded me of). Two of the three birds have had this (I didn't open up the third).

Does anyone know what this is? I read something about heart disease on this website, but it was unclear whether or not you could still eat the birds.

My two main questions are 1) what is it? and 2) can we still butcher them this weekend and safely eat them?

Thank you!

 

[Nutcase]

I'm sorry you lost those birds. This may help:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/218586/cornish-x-with-yellow-fluid-in-body-cavity

Good luck!