Urgent, yellowing skin and other symptoms

[Kanesmom1697]

Here's some pics I just took

 

[Kanesmom1697]

Do you feel able to open her up and do a necropsy if she dies? Some birds have a predisposition for developing fatty deposits and fatty liver and too much corn or scratch can cause that, whereas other birds are fine.
If that is the issue, you will find lots of thick yellow fat inside her abdomen and her liver will usually have a yellowy cast to it and often break apart when you handle it.

Yeah we already discussed doing an autopsy on her and see if we find anything, at least it may help someone else in the future

 

[Kanesmom1697]

Personally, I'd be planning to euthanize her at this point. She's continuing to decline.

We are discussing it, a hard decision no matter what.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes, it's a hard decision. But, when I make such a decision, I'm always relieved after the fact. Knowing that I've saved the animal from sufffering more days or even hours of misery. If you've never had to cull a chicken, do a thread search for the broomstick method.

 

[Kanesmom1697]

Yes, it's a hard decision. But, when I make such a decision, I'm always relieved after the fact. Knowing that I've saved the animal from sufffering more days or even hours of misery. If you've never had to cull a chicken, do a thread search for the broomstick method.

My boyfriend handles that area, he's got experience in it so I know she's in good hands. So we are debating on the best time and if it's to that point

 

[rebrascora]

If she does pass either by your boyfriend's hand or natural process and you do perform a necropsy, can you take photos of her internal organs and share them with us, so that we can all learn from them. There are a few threads where we share such photos and discuss possible cause of death without risk of offending people who may find such images shocking... I will find and post a link to one....

 

[Kanesmom1697]

If she does pass either by your boyfriend's hand or natural process and you do perform a necropsy, can you take photos of her internal organs and share them with us, so that we can all learn from them. There are a few threads where we share such photos and discuss possible cause of death without risk of offending people who may find such images shocking... I will find and post a link to one....

I will definitely do that because it is a learning experience and there isn't alot of help out there when it comes to chickens. I'm not sure if it is her heart if you could just tell by an autopsy?

 

[rebrascora]

Sorry, I got side tracked with another thread whilst searching for the Necropsy Diagnostic thread link. Here it is..........
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ning-contains-graphic-necropsy-photos.823961/

If you can take photos of all the organs there may be something that will stand out. It helps if you have processed chickens for meat before so that you have an idea of the internal layout and what is normal and what is not, but if you don't have that experience, then just take lots of photos of everything. If you view the thread I linked, you will get an idea of some of what you will encounter. I had a rooster that had a big floppy pericardium (sac around the heart) and I think the ventricles were all loose and floppy, so that was an indication that his heart was a problem but I couldn't say specifically what that problem was ie genetic or viral etc. I've also seen birds with tumours on their heart. Your girl might have a tumour on her liver.
I find it surprising how often you can pinpoint the cause, even with no medical training.

 

[lazy gardener]

Also, open up the gut to check for internal parasites. Check the crop and contents, look for any foreign bodies in crop or gizzard. Lash eggs, signs of egg yolk or pus in the abdominal cavity. Check liver. It should be firm and a nice deep mahogany red color.

 

[Kanesmom1697]

Sorry, I got side tracked with another thread whilst searching for the Necropsy Diagnostic thread link. Here it is..........
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ning-contains-graphic-necropsy-photos.823961/

If you can take photos of all the organs there may be something that will stand out. It helps if you have processed chickens for meat before so that you have an idea of the internal layout and what is normal and what is not, but if you don't have that experience, then just take lots of photos of everything. If you view the thread I linked, you will get an idea of some of what you will encounter. I had a rooster that had a big floppy pericardium (sac around the heart) and I think the ventricles were all loose and floppy, so that was an indication that his heart was a problem but I couldn't say specifically what that problem was ie genetic or viral etc. I've also seen birds with tumours on their heart. Your girl might have a tumour on her liver.
I find it surprising how often you can pinpoint the cause, even with no medical training.

Thank you and I'll keep you posted, if and when it comes to it we will take a lot of pictures. Someone might see something that I don't and it would be great to solve this mystery