I am a new member of BYC but not new to raising and breeding chickens however this one has me stumped.
Two days ago it was like any other with both me and my silkie flock, I checked on them at around 11am before I left for work and everything was normal. When I returned home at around 1:30am I also checked on the flock except this time I found one of my 9mo old splash pullets in a squatting position on the floor of the coop, at first I thought that she was sitting on an egg so I did not pay much attention, I finished filling feeders and changing water then went back to collect the egg from the splash pullet. When I reached my hand under her she did not move and acted as if she was stuck in that position. I immediately picked her up, took her inside to evaluate her. I checked her eyes which were clear, her skin was clear, she had feces clumped in the feathers below her vent but her vent was not blocked, her vent was open and enlarged so I thought that she was egg bound. During all of this inspection she still would not move from her position in fact she only ever really moved one leg and not very much at all.
I went with the "egg bound diagnosis l, put her in an warm isolation pen with a humidifier, used a syringe with no needle to give her water I then both food and water within her reach and left her until morning.
The next morning I woke up and found her dead in the isolation pen. I removed her and went to work. Today I went to clean the isolation pen and found this laying in the bottom.
It is a half formed egg so now I am wondering if my original diagnosis was correct or if I have a bigger problem on my hands. This particular pullet was new to laying eggs and had only been doing so for about 3 weeks.
Also, it should be pointed out that I vaccinate for everything possible, I worm on a regular basis, my birds are all in heated and cooled coops, and all of the other birds appear normal and are behaving normal.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Two days ago it was like any other with both me and my silkie flock, I checked on them at around 11am before I left for work and everything was normal. When I returned home at around 1:30am I also checked on the flock except this time I found one of my 9mo old splash pullets in a squatting position on the floor of the coop, at first I thought that she was sitting on an egg so I did not pay much attention, I finished filling feeders and changing water then went back to collect the egg from the splash pullet. When I reached my hand under her she did not move and acted as if she was stuck in that position. I immediately picked her up, took her inside to evaluate her. I checked her eyes which were clear, her skin was clear, she had feces clumped in the feathers below her vent but her vent was not blocked, her vent was open and enlarged so I thought that she was egg bound. During all of this inspection she still would not move from her position in fact she only ever really moved one leg and not very much at all.
I went with the "egg bound diagnosis l, put her in an warm isolation pen with a humidifier, used a syringe with no needle to give her water I then both food and water within her reach and left her until morning.
The next morning I woke up and found her dead in the isolation pen. I removed her and went to work. Today I went to clean the isolation pen and found this laying in the bottom.
It is a half formed egg so now I am wondering if my original diagnosis was correct or if I have a bigger problem on my hands. This particular pullet was new to laying eggs and had only been doing so for about 3 weeks.
Also, it should be pointed out that I vaccinate for everything possible, I worm on a regular basis, my birds are all in heated and cooled coops, and all of the other birds appear normal and are behaving normal.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
