Please help save my girls!

[Greenkorene]

One of my Wyandotte’s just died. She was maybe 7 month old. She hadn’t laced an egg yet, is that weird? She was lethargic, no eating or drinking, not moving and eyes shut. Today a murky smelly liquid was coming out of her beak. I didn’t know if she was egg bound so I did a warm bath and tried to feel inside her but couldn’t. She also had been moving her head in and out like something was stuck in her throat. I checked for any kind of bugs on her and there were none. Over the last 3 years we’ve had a total of 4 die in a very similar way. I love my chickens they are my pets. My kids and I hold and love on them always. Please help. I’ve even taken one to a vet and they had no diagnosis.

 

[BugMunch]

I haven't experienced anything like this with my girls, but from what I have read online and in groups, I am wondering if your girl had sour and impacted crop? https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2012/02/sour-crop.html

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC.

We are glad you joined our flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.

I am sorry for your loss. Do you happen to live in the US?
I ask because if so you should send her body to your state lab to find out the exact reason she died...which could help you prevent it from continuing to happen.

It sounds like you might have a respiratory disease in your flock. Wild guess.

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops.

What exactly did you Google to get here? <<<<<<<<<<<

BYC has an APP!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

One of my Wyandotte’s just died. She was maybe 7 month old. She hadn’t laced an egg yet, is that weird? She was lethargic, no eating or drinking, not moving and eyes shut. Today a murky smelly liquid was coming out of her beak. I didn’t know if she was egg bound so I did a warm bath and tried to feel inside her but couldn’t. She also had been moving her head in and out like something was stuck in her throat. I checked for any kind of bugs on her and there were none. Over the last 3 years we’ve had a total of 4 die in a very similar way. I love my chickens they are my pets. My kids and I hold and love on them always. Please help. I’ve even taken one to a vet and they had no diagnosis.

I’m so sorry that you lost your hen! I think that without a necropsy, it will be hard to tell what happened to her.

 

[DiYMama540]

Welcome to BYC! I hate that your hear under such circumstances, but I'm sure some of the experts here may be able to shed some light on what's going on.

@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @casportpony @oldhenlikesdogs @dawg53 are just a few of our trusted educators around here!

 

[BullChick]

I am sorry about the problems.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry for your loss, but I would also recommend saving her body, keeping it cool, but not frozen, and taking or sending it to your state vet tomorrow morning for a necropsy. It might have been a crop infection, and could have been caused by a repoductive disorder or something else. It (a necropsy) is a good way to rule out any infectious diseases. Here is a list of state poultry vets:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I am so sorry for your losses. I would definitely send her body in for a necropsy so you can get a handle on this for any future birds. I am again so sorry.

 

[gtaus]

First of all, welcome to the BYC forums

One of my Wyandotte’s just died. She was maybe 7 month old. She hadn’t laced an egg yet, is that weird?

From a Google search: "Wyandottes are pretty good layers but don't mature much earlier than most other breeds. You should expect them to lay anywhere from 18 to 22 weeks."

So, at about 28 weeks old, that is a little late. My Wyndotte started laying late, maybe at 24 weeks.

She was lethargic, no eating or drinking, not moving and eyes shut. Today a murky smelly liquid was coming out of her beak. I didn’t know if she was egg bound so I did a warm bath and tried to feel inside her but couldn’t. She also had been moving her head in and out like something was stuck in her throat. I checked for any kind of bugs on her and there were none. Over the last 3 years we’ve had a total of 4 die in a very similar way.

How many chickens do you have, or have you had over 3 years? I would expect some loss, but you seem to indicate that losing 4 birds over 3 years was unexpected.

What are your chickens eating? Is it possible something is actually getting stuck in her throat? I have heard that some chickens can gorge themselves on long grass and develop impacted crops. I feed my chickens grass clippings all spring/summer/early fall from lawn mowing, but have yet to have any problems.

I’ve even taken one to a vet and they had no diagnosis.

Yeah, some people here on BYC forums disagree with me because I always say I would not bring any of my chickens to our vet. But our vets don't know anything about chickens, so you would get a big vet bill for nada. Like I said, I can buy 20 healthy chicks for the price of one visit to the vet with a sick chicken. So I do what I can with my flock and try to treat them on my own.

I treat my small backyard flock as something between livestock and pets. I only have 10 chickens, so I know each hen pretty well. On the other hand, I don't name my chickens because I don't want to think of them as pets. In fact, my strategy, was to order 10 chicks hoping that 6 survive the winter. So I have planned for loss, but do my best to care for my girls and keep them all happy and healthy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One of my Wyandotte’s just died. She was maybe 7 month old. She hadn’t laced an egg yet, is that weird? She was lethargic, no eating or drinking, not moving and eyes shut. Today a murky smelly liquid was coming out of her beak. I didn’t know if she was egg bound so I did a warm bath and tried to feel inside her but couldn’t. She also had been moving her head in and out like something was stuck in her throat. I checked for any kind of bugs on her and there were none. Over the last 3 years we’ve had a total of 4 die in a very similar way. I love my chickens they are my pets. My kids and I hold and love on them always. Please help. I’ve even taken one to a vet and they had no diagnosis.

Welcome To BYC, I'm sorry for your loss.

It would be good to send a bird for necropsy if possible.
Having a murky smelly liquid coming out of the beak could be related to crop issues, but when one is sick it's so hard to know.
Here's some reading about crop problems that you might find helpful.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/


http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments