First things first, this post comes with a warning of graphic content of the necropsy (animal autopsy) I performed on one of my favourite chickens, Sweetie. This post is for people who own chickens and want to understand as much as possible about them and the various diseases/health problems that afflict them.
Further down this post (I will warn you in advance) there will be photos and video of a miniature necropsy (only one incision) that I performed to confirm the cause of death in Sweetie as Sour Crop.
I understand there are those of you who prefer the romantic notion of owning chickens and not necessarily the accompanying horror that inevitably comes with these animals. For those of you, I direct you to these more pleasant posts from my past chicken experiences.
- The Coop: A look at my contemporary chicken coop.
- Will They Eat it?: Episode 2 in a video series.
- Pretty Pictures of my Chickens.
- The Best Fly Prevention Method - Parasitic Wasps.
- How to Ferment Chicken Feed
If you do not wish to see an actual chicken necropsy do not read further.
GRAPHIC CONTENT BELOW.
(honestly it isn't that bad, but if you're the sensitive type you might cry)
O.K. this is where the real post begins. Last week I told you how one of my chickens, Sweetie, died unexpectedly. That's kind of the hallmark of chickens by the way, dying unexpectedly.
They're miracle workers when it comes to hiding that they're sick or injured. It's a genetic trait to keep them alive. If they look weak they know they'll be the first picked off by a predator. Plus if they look weak they'll get harassed by their fellow chickens. So they hide their symptoms.
Which is exactly what Sweetie did. Last week I told you about how Sweetie, my black Ameraucana died recently. I suspected it was a sour crop because of impaction but I wasn't positive. And I wanted to know for sure what killed her so I could be sure it wasn't something contagious.
If I had NO idea at all what killed her, I wouldn't have cut her open looking for random things, but I was pretty sure I knew what was going on, I just needed to confirm it. If you're interested in some of the symptoms of Sour Crop and how it affects a chicken you can read this post.
This post isn't about Sour Crop, it's a general look at what it was like to necropsy one of my chickens and what I did exactly.
Since it seemed like the issue was sour crop I knew all I had to do was cut open her crop, which sits right next to the skin of her chest and take a look inside. No big deal. No breaking or cutting bones, no looking at organs, nothing like that.
First I had to remove a few feathers from her chest to access the skin over her crop.
Then using a sharp blade I gingerly cut the skin, unsure how thick it would be or how difficult to cut through.
The skin on the breast was fairly thin and easy to cut through. Directly beneath the skin was the crop.
I then cut through the crop (which is like a stomach almost), and what came next was something so horrifying I cannot even explain it.
Sweetie's crop was filled with putrid, stinking juice. I assume it was infection. It came streaming out like an abscess and smelled bad enough, even through a mask, to make me gag. But I kept going. Like an idiot.
Once the crop had drained of rotting fluid, I could see what was in there.
There was a bit of a nest inside Sweetie's crop. She'd been eating straw which is a hazard with chickens but usually it just passes into their gizzard.
I pulled the tangle of straw out of Sweetie's crop and assessed it.
This is the majority of what was found in her crop. A fair amount, but after all that I wasn't sure if this was enough to cause Sour Crop or impaction so I sent the photo off to Dr. Mark.
According to Dr. Mark, this could have been enough to cause an impaction in Sweetie and Sour Crop. Another chicken may have been fine with it and worked it through, and another chicken still might have been able to fight the infection, but that wasn't the case with Sweetie.
In case you're wondering where all the blood is (like several of my friends asked), there is no blood because the heart isn't pumping.
If you're feeling particularly brave I also videoed the entire procedure, although I've cut what was 16 minutes of footage down to 3 and a half minutes.
I've eliminated most of the really gross stuff like spewing puss and extraordinary language on my part. This video is for the curious.
CHICKEN NECROPSY
Really the worst part of this was the smell. It was surprisingly easy to cut into Sweetie once she had died because it was just her body and I was somehow able to mentally separate her body from her. It wasn't an ideal Thursday morning but I'm glad I did it just to see what it was like and to better understand the inside of a chicken.
I can say with great honesty that that very night I went to the grocery store to pick up something quick for dinner and I had a make a U turn at the pre-cooked chicken section. That wasn't happening.
Thanks for sticking it out with this post to the bitter end. You, are a brave and curious soul and I'm happy to have you around.
Have a good weekend!
I don't eat chicken or turkey (due to Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM). but I do eat eggs. I may re-consider now.
Ugh, you are sort of super human material now. I admire you in a "special" way. This whole ordeal is so sad and gross to the tenth degree. I wish you comfort and something but I'm not sure what.
So sad about Sweetie.
Karen you are very brave and very attentive to your chickens. Glad the mystery has been solved...
Thank you....
So sorry about Sweetie, sweetie. You are a good chicken mommy, and SO BRAVE to do your own necropsy. Ick. You really CAN do everything.
This doesn't even hold a candle to the lash egg post...or the maggot butt POST OMG!!! I forgot. I gagged and eyes teared up reading those. This was classy and clinical :) I'm sorry about Sweetie.
Should have called me. I have assisted lots of surgery and done lots myself.
Just read this interesting article about rescued chickens helping to save someone's life. I didn't even know there was such a thing. This is in the UK, but maybe there are similar organizations on this side of the pond? For those who have chickens?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/mar/24/adopted-battery-hens-saved-my-life-experience
First off, I'm sorry for your loss. Secondly, anytime someone says they want chickens, I refer them to your posts about flystrike and ask if they are prepared. Here's another one I can send them. I also always wanted chickens, but know mentally I couldn't handle some of this as my pets are my heart. Therefore, I live through you with my chicken obsession.
Karen, I remain not only a humble admirer, but also a devoted follower. You are an awesome chicken owner, and I can only hope that I would do the same if an animal in my care fell ill and died without a clear cause.
I thought, for a moment, you were explaining my family " That’s kind of the hallmark of (joanne's family) by the way, dying unexpectedly.
(Joanne's family)'re miracle workers when it comes to hiding that they’re sick or injured. It’s a genetic trait to keep them alive. If they look weak they know they’ll be the first picked off by a predator. Plus if (joanne's family) look weak they’ll get harassed by their fellow chickens. So they hide their symptoms.
That's why I can't have chickens here at the ranch. Something is always getting in to kill them or they're finding other ways to die. I'd love to have chickens but I have enough chores and I just can't deal with the mortality rate.
But, if you're going to have livestock of any kind you can't be a wimp about it. Thanks for the info,Karen, and bravely doing the necropsy. Learning things is always good. This will inevitably help you save another one of your sweet chickens - even if it does cause you to become a crop Gropper.
Note to self: when Karen says graphic content, etc. don't think to self, yeah, whatever...and keep slurping morning coffee.
Said coffee somehow has weirdly tainted taste now.
You're pretty damned amazing....
So sorry about Sweetie, but good for your resolve, Karen! Even as you mourned for your pal, your were thinking about HER pals, and how to protect them. Also, thanks for sharing. You are one helluva woman.
Interesting. I don't think I've ever seen my chickens eat straw. I typically have wood chips in the chicken house on the floor and only straw in the nest boxes. Maybe I should get rid of the straw and use something else? In the summer I use dried grass clippings, which they seem to prefer and I have seen them eat that.
As a lover of pus, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. :P
But, as others have said, I admire your willingness to get to the bottom of things! I know that death is inevitable for my hens, but I hate to think about it being too soon.
Oh wow. Your first sentence! I cannot say I have EVER read those words strung together before in my entire life. Especially the first five. Very bold. 🙄 lol
Hahaha! There are more of us out there!
Such an important topic to cover for chicken/livestock owners! I tell everyone that a chicken's #1 past-time is to find ways to die or be killed. The truth is that when owning or caring for any livestock, you will have to confront and become comfortable with death. While chickens love to die, they also DO leave lots of information or hints to help treat or recognize symptoms in flockmates in the future - you just have to dive in and look. Necropsy is invaluable for flock health, safety and education.
I often check their crops before when they go in for the night to make sure they're all eating, but now I might start feeling their crops in the morning to make sure they're all emptying! ~ karen
Good lord I was gagging just watching/listening to you, brave girl! RIP Sweetie.
You are a brave friend. Thank you.
Karen, Thank you for your bravery and sharing what you learned wth the rest of us. Having dealt with sour crop a couple of times I can attest to the smell and sure it was worse at the source. Sweetie gave you eggs and pleasure while alive and gave many of us an education in her passing. Thanks again to you both.
No, no backyard chickens for me. I will live vicariously through you.
PS- eeeeewww
U are the brave and serious soul.