My understanding from what was posted in the thread I had about the first necropsy wa it can be from a couple of things. 1) it can just happen has many hens develop reproductive issues and 2) it can result from having had infectious bronchitis (IB). Once they get IB they are a carrier for life. I don’t know or understand how a respiratory illness ends up causing a fluid filled sac in the abdomen but that’s what seems can happen.
I suspect the IB link. I stupidly cause a respiratory illness in my flock about 6 months ago. Overcrowding coupled with damp leaves on a close confined roosting area. I didn’t know better. I fixed it within a few days but it was too late. So I think I’ve been dealing with the fallout ever since. The first hen we necropsied (new word lol!) has the sac as I said. The 2nd hen we didn’t have time to do a necropsy but symptoms were same as first hen and this one. And of course this hen has an even bigger sac. Also I had heard some sneezes and coughs 2 weeks ago and treated with Denagard. I should have treated more often as a preventative and faster when I heard the sneezes. My guess is Lily was stressed by being broody and became susceptible to an IB flare up.
As an interesting note though all 3 hens that have died came from the same purchase I made in March. So there’s a chance that if it’s a result of something shared, it happened prior to me. But regardless I didn’t help with the mistakes I made. I have 2 hens left from that group. One, Crystal, had the respiratory stuff bad, even worse than did one of the light Brahmas which also has died.
I did ask on that first necropsy thread (or maybe it was the respiratory thread as I was learning what I had) of having the respiratory illness happen was like having a ticking time bomb. No one responded but I guessing may be seeing that happen for myself.
I’m sorry to hijack this happy thread on eggs with this darker topic. I’m settled at the vacation place now and will post the necropsy thread later tonight.
I did bring 3 dozen eggs with me to the vacation place! Lol!
