I have been raising chickens for meat, and eggs since last spring. My hens are laying well, but I have lost two birds in the past few weeks. The first one was found dead in the yard, by a friend who was taking care of them while I was away for a few days. She said that there was a lot of blood, and it looked like the hen had not been able to pass an egg. About two weeks later, another hen began to act kind of weird, and she looked swollen and puffy around the bottom. I went ahead and butchered her, thinking to salvage the meat, but when I opened her up, there was no evidence of any eggs, and she was full of a yellow liquid---there was a LOT of it. It actually sprayed out, like a hose--- Don't have a clue as to the problem, but am wondering if they both could have died from the same thing, and is the meat likely tainted? (I threw her away) Does anybody know anything about this?

-- judysonnier (judysonnier@hotmail.com), April 02, 2001

Answers

Not overly sure of the cause, but it doesn't sound like they both had the same problem... First one was more likely a hemorrhage -

You done right, Lady!! Toss that bird. The first, I couldn't tell you, but buildup of liquids in a body isn't good at all, no matter which way you look at it. Especially, though, a yellowish liquid.

I would need more detail on that second bird, such as if there were any symptoms preceding the death... There are a few different things this could be. Watch the birds that were with her, though. Post again, if you notice anything that worries you -

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 02, 2001.

Check out the Postmortem Findings below. You may find why your chook died.

Postmortem Examination http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/rojo1/post.html

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Postmortem Findings  http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/rojo1/postmort.html  

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), April 03, 2001.

Thanks so much for the site address. It never occurred to me to check the condition of the organs, as I wasn't expecting anything other than a routine butchering. However, in addition to the yellow fluid in the abdominal cavity, I did notie that her liver looked enlarged, and had a few tiny spots. The main thing I have wondered about is if she had some kind of disease that could go through the rest of my little flock----

-- judysonnier (judysonnier@hotmail.com), April 03, 2001.

I don't know about the first bird, but the second one sounds like what we call infection process or air sacculitis either set of diseases can be fatal. The meat of the second bird could probably used as long as infected areas are thrown away unless the bird after plucking is not healthy looking, dark, scrawny or generally nasty looking. I would check that site also watch your other birds where there are 2 sick birds there may be more. We see alot of sick birds in my profession at least in young birds. I am an USDA Food Inspector and I am stationed in a poultry plant.

-- Wynema Passmore (nemad_72039@yahoo.com), April 06, 2001.

Internal symptoms for diagnosing poultry disease:

Liver

Film on surface.... Chronic respiratory disease; fowl cholera; colibacillosis

Necrosis with mottling.... Vibronic hepatitis; blackhead; inclusion body hepatitis

White or yellow spots.... Fowl cholera; hepatitis; pullorum; ulcerative enteritis; adenovirus infection

Swollen, darkened.... Fowl cholera; typhoid; erysipelas; septicemia; toxemia; inclusion body hepatitis

Yellowish, sandy nodules.... Tuberculosis

Enlarged, plus or minus nodules.... Marek's disease; lymphoid leukosis

Round, depressed ulcers.... Blackhead

Green.... Staphylococcosis; blockage of bile

Yellow.... Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome; normal fat storage; aflatoxicosis

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), April 07, 2001.