Sudden death in chickens

Re: Sudden death in chickens

Mark Rowland — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:17:16 GMT

Edit a parachute is an unlikely cause of death but parasites are a possibility ;-)

Re: Sudden death in chickens

Mark Rowland — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:14:29 GMT

Hi you need histo in a case like this. Sudden death may not show gross pm signs but you need to rule out acute septic events for the sake of the others. I would culture faeces from the others and check for parachute as a start. Histo if more die. Goodluck

Re: Sudden death in chickens

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:43:43 GMT

BVA Poster

Chickens die. Silkies especially useless!

Re: Sudden death in chickens

Tim Cheyne — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:01:11 GMT

Any possibility of electrocution?........although I would expect more extensive petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhages if it were a mammal, not sure about poultry.

Tim.

Re: Sudden death in chickens

Mark Holmes — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:07:06 GMT

I have a bluebell which I would be happy to post him if he wants another......damn thing will lay anywhere and consequently I don't get my breakfast. Last time I found her stash there were 20+ eggs heaped on top of each other. Being a hybrid she won't even try brooding the things.

Re: Sudden death in chickens

Mark Holmes — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:04:20 GMT

I think botulism is well known in chickens. Normally associated with cannnibalism but if they are free roaming then they could be eating anything.

Re: Sudden death in chickens

Emily Nightingale — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:48:59 GMT

[quote user="Martin Jones"]

Erm, sorry to be pedantic, but why would there be euthanasia-related abdominal haemorrhage if they died of natural causes? Might be more significant than you think.

My own experience of chickens, especially with Silkies, suggests that sudden death is an entirely normal event for a chicken and should not be regarded as anything which any intervention might interfere with

[/quote]

oo not being pedantic at all.. sorrr can see why that would be confusing!! One found dead this morning, this afternoon another found dying so was helped on it's way- this was the one that was pm'ed. Sorry- useless post if asking for cause of death and stating euthanasia was performed.. Sort of negates the point!! Thanks for pointing that out!!

Re: Sudden death in chickens

Martin Jones — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:46:36 GMT

Erm, sorry to be pedantic, but why would there be euthanasia-related abdominal haemorrhage if they died of natural causes? Might be more significant than you think.