Chicken laid large egg smeared with yellow gunk, stopped laying, and is now ill

[Aunt Angus]

Sorry I just am seeing this now. I would definitely to a necropsy for $25 - unfortunately I am in NJ so shipping to UC Davis would be pricey. I will check out Rutgers though and see if they offer the service - they do have an Ag school, so maybe!

Yeah I should have tried antibiotics, I just didn't think she was sick until it was too late. :'(

Each state has their own labs. I swear there's a list somewhere on BYC, but I'll be darned if I can find it.

 

[onthefarmnj]

Each state has their own labs. I swear there's a list somewhere on BYC, but I'll be darned if I can find it.

Good to know! Going to try to track it down.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Doesn't help in this case, but suggest reading up on Vent Gleet. It frequently accompanies infections of the reproductive tract and can be your only outward visual sign (particularly in large flocks, where who is laying on what day may be less certain) that there is a problem.

Its certainly not a perfect indicator, but at least if you are on the lookout for it, you might have more time to diagnose and treat a bird amenable to cure by means of antibiotics or the like. Even then, no guarantees.

Whether to send off for necropsy at a local college or do your own post mortem is a decision I won't weigh in on - I don't have the experience to offer any useful guidance.

 

[onthefarmnj]

Actually I did read up on vent gleet, but it didn't seem to apply to her. She had no vent discharge and the surrounding feathers were fluffy and clean.

I agree I should have tried antibiotics - she just didn't seem sick. I will be more proactive next time!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Actually I did read up on vent gleet, but it didn't seem to apply to her. She had no vent discharge and the surrounding feathers were fluffy and clean.

I agree I should have tried antibiotics - she just didn't seem sick. I will be more proactive next time!

honestly, w/o the vent gleet as an indicator, i'd not have done anything different than you did. thank you for sharing this experience, sorry for the outcome.