Long and short of it: A necropsy is the avian version of an autopsy. We performed a very abbreviated version, and not a full necropsy.
We received a chicken that was extremely ill when she arrived, and although everyone's intensions were genuine and we were hopeful, it was heartbreaking when she didn't make it. In an effort to find out what caused this poor baby's death, and to ensure that we are able to recognize the symptoms going forward should we come across it again, we performed an abbreviated necropsy according to Dept. of Agriculture guidelines. What we discovered was nothing short of gut-wrenching while also being an extremely valuable learning experience for everyone involved. Do not watch the video if you believe it will cause you any sort of trauma.
