No flash and that's what I thought. Dark blue. Thanks!
Silkied Ameraucana Project
- Thread starter CatKai
- Start date
Lost a silkied splash pullet overnight, she was getting closer to POL and had no externally discernible cause of death. I didn't have time before work to do an autopsy to see if I could figure out a cause of death; she wasn't laying yet but I suppose it is possible she was egg bound on a first egg. Regardless, poor girl 
Rats!! Question... How do you autopsy? Just process like normal? I had a pullet die the other night, different breed though. Out of the blue... Fine 1 minute laying around with it's head on it's back the next. Ugh!
I planned on autopsying like normal processing except being more careful to keep the internal bits intact/undamaged as much as possible to inspect and skipping plucking. I don't know what would be best practices, so I can't help there. I would guess it'd be easy to rule out egg bound as a cause if the pullet had no eggs in development that could have been an issue. Since I didn't have the time to take care of that properly and get to work on time, I just ended up burying the pullet.
The one good thing about processing my own culls and extra roosters is that I have an idea of what normal looks like for comparing in case of autopsy. I'd like to think if they are going to be processed they'd appreciate that they are helping flock by providing a point of comparison for what healthy birds should look like inside. Going forward I'd hope to be able to spot abnormal organ development, but there are a lot of causes of death that would be invisible. Still, any additional information might prove useful to helping keep the flock in good health.
I'm sorry to hear about your pullet, poor girl
The one good thing about processing my own culls and extra roosters is that I have an idea of what normal looks like for comparing in case of autopsy. I'd like to think if they are going to be processed they'd appreciate that they are helping flock by providing a point of comparison for what healthy birds should look like inside. Going forward I'd hope to be able to spot abnormal organ development, but there are a lot of causes of death that would be invisible. Still, any additional information might prove useful to helping keep the flock in good health.
I'm sorry to hear about your pullet, poor girl
for an autopsy I dry pluck.. shows any bruises or cuts..
if there are no bruises or cuts I then remove thighs and wings like you were cutting up for dinner
after that I make a split down both sides across the ribs (from where the wings attached downwards towards the vent) on both sides making sure I don't cut too deeply.. just enough to break through the ribs
slice under the keel bone to connect both side cuts and then "peel back" the breast bone.. like lifting the hood on a car
That exposes all of the internal organs exactly as they were in life with the heart up against the breast and everything else laying down along the spine in the body cavity... you can get a good view of the lungs, gizzard, liver and intestines without having pulled anything or tearing anything....
if there are bruises or cuts I open those areas first to check on damage
I have a friend who wants me to come over this coming weekend to process some skinny birds they picked up off of craigslist.. so I might have to get my husband to take some pics since they only want the breast meat, wings, legs and thighs off of the birds...
sorry about everyone's losses.. unfortunately it happens...
The silkied girl was 22+ weeks I believe, not sure exactly without checking my records. I wouldn't rule out egg bound as an option due to age, but I don't think it's the most likely cause due to her comb not being as red as the other pullets who have started laying.
That sounds like a much better way to do it, thank you for sharing.
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She is way far off from laying probably nearly 2 months more in likely longer. I would search for another cause.
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