I'm at the end of my rope trying to figure out why I've lost two hens, both Ameraucanas, in the past couple of months... I'm looking for a low-cost necropsy option so I can get to the bottom of this mystery. Anyone have any recommendations?
The first dead chicken was found lying on the floor of the coop with no obvious signs of trauma. We thought possible heat exhaustion, since it was just when temps were hitting 100, but they've been through far worse.
Now, several weeks later, a second chicken is currently hanging on by a thread. I just can't bear to lose my girls one by one this way! In February, a couple of chickens and the rooster had gurgly breathing, but that cleared up with a round of powdered tetracycline antibiotics (Duramycin 10) and some liquid Vetericyn, and neither of these latest two have any obvious symptoms.
We have a large protected run with plenty of shade and water, a shallow pool for them to stand in that is changed once or twice a day, and a high mister system for when it's super hot. To be on the safe side, we even added a small air conditioner (don't laugh!) to the coop so the nesting boxes don't turn into little ovens. (We had a few chickens that seem to take forever to lay, and another that was broody on and off.) As far as attention goes, these are some seriously spoiled chickens-- we love them. I've read everything I can, talked to feed stores and vets... I am frustrated and out of ideas.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can try! Thank you!
Replies
Dr. Ross Babcock did one on one of my birds. He's at Palo Verde Animal Hospital at 12th st. and Northern. I hope he is still practicing...
He sent one to U of A for me once, due to a possible communicable disease. It's been a while,and I don't remember if there was a charge.
I haven't done it in years, but the Ag Ext Center on Broadway used to send animals (they had a regular run to Tucson)
to U of A for necropsy and it was pretty cheap.