Hard Impacted Stomach, Internal Eggs and Sudden Death?

[CountryMom]

Ok, I have seen others talk about Internal Layers, but never did understand it really. I need someone experienced to explain what the heck it is. I had an unusual egg situation a while ago with one of my Buff Orpingtons (laid unusually wrinkled and super large egg ending up dying with egg inside), but now have a sudden death with one or our Leghorns. Upon inspections internally we found soft eggs and a very full, very hard, impacted stomach (guess it was stomach.) The only sign that anything was off was the fact that she had not laid an egg in about 3 maybe 4 days. Otherwise she was out free ranging yesterday and her usual spastic self.

Just wanted to add that she was found in our nest box when dead. Kind of like she hoped to lay an egg? She was right at a year old and a hatchery bird.

 

[Renee]

Oh, it sounds like a reproductive problem.

It appears that many of the high-egg-producing chicken breeds have a high percentage of hens with egg problems.

Are you sure it was not the crop that was hard and full?

 

[CountryMom]

Seeing as we did this by a light here at night, I am not totally certain about the crop verses stomach. It was hard packed and very very dry. It was low in the body.

Considering no illness is present in our flock, I am really thinking it is an egg laying issue or a impacted something (crop vs stomach?) issue. I did not see any problems with her eating in the last few days or any signs of weakness or illness of any kind.