Organ weights of normal broiler chickens and those dying of sudden death syndrome.

Sudden death syndrome is an economically important condition of fast-growing broiler chickens in which death occurs suddenly with a short, wing-beating convulsion. Gross or histological lesions are not present. Relative weights of internal organs from broilers dead from sudden death syndrome were compared to those of normal broilers to determine differences that might confirm a diagnosis of sudden death syndrome. Relative weights of lung, heart, liver, and intestine from normal broilers were determined at 9, 21, 30 and 42 days of age at various intervals after death. Organ weights stabilized approximately two hours postmortem and relative organ weight declined with age. A diagnosis of sudden death syndrome could not be made on the basis of relative organ weight.