She was almost 6 months old. Anomalies in first 3 weeks of daily egg laying included: less than 25 hrs between laying, double lash eggs on the poo board, and a few large Double Yolks - the last with heavy shell and uneven calcium on surface, after eating a lot of pumpkin. Most eggs however, were lovely brown eggs. I saw no evidence of parasites, injury, malnutrition or respiratory disease. I welcome comments. Sorry if my pix are not what experienced scientists want to see...it was my first time attempting this, and I did not edit them. I did not open the Crop or Gizzard. The latter seemed larger than I expected. I may look closer tomorrow before composting. I think she had a ruptured Oviduct - and internal laying. The cooked egg was everywhere inside, in already broken up bits, with no hard shell present. It smelled like fresh boiled egg inside, and egg was all over her inside abdominal cavity, and i did not see an intact tube-like oviduct, but the cluster of new yolks were clearly visible near upper back where expected. Interesting to see what looked like several black beetles in her throat, as if that may have been her last meal. I stepped on one of those yesterday near where I picked her up to bring her inside. Appears no way she could have been saved...I'm glad the internal laying did not go on longer. I may add a ramp to the roost so the next with large or unfinished egg inside has less risk of internal laying, and will add more varied calcium options.
Relieved to not see parasites or evidence of contagious Illness.
Glad I saw fat forming on our active lowest of pecking order Pullet, I was always worried if she got enough food and would call to her as I set a bowl in a separate area from the Barred Rock Thugs and Food Police Exchequered Leghorn.
We used what we could of the cleaned meat, and I boiled the carcass for stock,
then gave the sinewy carcass to the flock for a rainy day activity. Along with Pumpkin, greens, grains and fruit - it looked like they got an early Thanksgiving dinner buffet.
Maybe Goldie's spirit was reborn into someone's Hatchling when she passed. If so, she will be first to come hop onto your hand, or to come let you pick her up to go outside for Chickie adventures..and last to return to the Roost. Enjoy their independent sweet spirits while they live with you. I sure do. Thanks for all the eggs!
Relieved to not see parasites or evidence of contagious Illness.
Glad I saw fat forming on our active lowest of pecking order Pullet, I was always worried if she got enough food and would call to her as I set a bowl in a separate area from the Barred Rock Thugs and Food Police Exchequered Leghorn.
We used what we could of the cleaned meat, and I boiled the carcass for stock,
then gave the sinewy carcass to the flock for a rainy day activity. Along with Pumpkin, greens, grains and fruit - it looked like they got an early Thanksgiving dinner buffet.
Maybe Goldie's spirit was reborn into someone's Hatchling when she passed. If so, she will be first to come hop onto your hand, or to come let you pick her up to go outside for Chickie adventures..and last to return to the Roost. Enjoy their independent sweet spirits while they live with you. I sure do. Thanks for all the eggs!
