- Sep 27, 2014
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Ill tell you her history briefly. I would post links to my other threads about her if i knew how. Pixie was a 1.5 year old Red Sex link. In the spring she developed sour crop. She nearly died from it, but she pulled through. She made sure that i went through it with her, as i made a rookie mistake and got my face too close to her as she shook her head clearing her mouth from vomit! there is a reason it isn't called sweet crop! Anyway, from that point on she never laid another egg. at that point i did notice some minor water belly. So i began researching water belly and egg bound, i treated her for egg bound for a few days, but never saw/felt an egg. I figured, well, maybe she is still just bouncing back from sour crop. She began to put on weight like a healthy bird would, but still has a slight water belly. A few weeks later I treated for egg bound again, knowing that it couldn't just be water belly, as her belly was not growing. I also treated with durimyacin 10 (Spelling?) and saw no results. I had done all the home remedies i could, and i am not the type of person to spend 100$ at the vet for a 2$ chicken. BUT, rest assured that i will not let an animal suffer either. This bird ate normally, drank normally, had normal stools, empty crop in the morning, full crop at night. She was not in pain at all. so i decided that i will just let her live her days out as a pet, until she began to exhibit symptoms of pain. In the mean time i regularly checked her belly for symptoms, and just watch her general activity level. the last few days she was a bit slow, i attributed it to not being in top shape in below zero temps. But i checked her anyway, her water belly had turned rock hard. Admittedly it has been at least two weeks since i had checked her belly. so this morning in went and checked on her, she was exhibiting the egg bound signs of tail down and butt on the ground. I knew it was time. So i gathered her up, brought her inside and placed her in a warm kennel until after breakfast. After breakfast i went downstairs with my husband so he could do the deed (i can do it for others, but am a complete wuss when it comes to my own pets), she was already on her side, with labored breathing. That definitely told me it was time. So my husband distpatched her for me. Then in an effort to learn, to aid my future hens, i did my own autopsy on her. Weird, i can do that, but not dispatch them! now remember, just two weeks ago her belly was watery, but soft. then yesterday it was rock hard. these pics are what i found inside her. The largest tumor was nearest to her vent, the others followed in accordance to their size. The large one reminded me of a heart, it looked like it had one large valve running through it. all these tumors were inside her intestinal tract, and just slid right out as i slightly squeezed them out of the tube. if any of you have any information to add, as to what exactly these tumors are called, etc. i would appreciate hearing what you have to say. thanks. I hope this helps someone else. PS, if any of you would be willing to teach me how to post links to my other threads, that would be great too. Rest in peace Pixie!!!!
