I am not sure. Is this results from egg bound chicken death

[Kendratn]

I think I killed my hen. By increasing protein for winter. She died and look perfect. I did a autopsy and found she was full of yolks. Is this what they mean by egg bound?

 

[micstrachan]

I'm so very sorry. No. I don't think this is from being egg bound. I believe it is salpingitis, which is inflammation of the oviduct. The material that came out looks like lash egg to me, which isn't really egg at all. It's infectious material (that may have started with egg) in her reproductive tract. Or did it come from her abdominal cavity loosely? In that case, it could be egg yolk peritonitis. Are you sure it's yolk?

 

[WhiteWyan]

This isn't your fault...
She wasn't egg bound but she was laying internally. Her eggs were leaking into her body instead of following the reproductive tract and developing a shell. I believe it is a problem that some hens are genetically predisposed to. Poor chicken... ):

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That would be internal laying I believe. I don't think increased protein will cause that or really any general problems. It's generally caused by a damage oviduct from my understanding. Not much you can do to prevent it.

 

[micstrachan]

And just to clarify, egg bound means when a hen has an egg, but can't lay it. Sometimes a soft-shelled egg can cause a chicken to be egg bound because they are harder to pass. Sometimes a double-yolker can cause egg binding. There are other causes, as well, but I am pretty confident that is not the issue here.

 

[Kendratn]

Thank you all for your help. I researched egg yolk peritonitis and that is what she must of had. The images were the same as mine. It was liked cooked egg yolks. I had read about egg bound but I had never heard of this egg yolk disorder. She was just a great hen.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

That looks like peritonitis to me. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Kendratn]

Thank you. Do you know why this happens and do you know if contagious? I’ve read up on since I just learned. But I’m wondering because I have Roos. And if bacteria could him mounting a hen that has this. Transfer the bacteria to another hen he mounts. Or is this just a Part of nature.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I do not think it's anything transferable. From what I have read it is either from an injury to the oviduct, or it's just something that can happen sometimes.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi

Just to clarify.... if that egg material was loose in the abdominal cavity surrounding the intestines and liver, then it is due to internal laying. This is where egg yolks released from the ovary fail to travel into the oviduct and instead drop into the abdominal cavity. This often goes on for weeks or months before becoming obvious or even causing the bird much of a problem. These yolks can remain benign for a long period of time and not become infected.... the infection is called Egg Yolk Peritonitis.... but the huge mass of eggs can put pressure on the gut and other organs and become fatal without infection even occurring, so the presence of the egg yolks does not mean that the bird had EYP but does indicate that she was internally laying. There is often a build up of fluid (ascites) associated with this ailment and the hen will walk with a wide stance and her belly will appear low to the ground in the latter stages.
This malfunction may occur as a result of trauma or perhaps the bird jumping down from a high perch or maybe a build up of fat all causing a possible misalignment of the ovary and oviduct. It can also happen as a result of salpingitis.... an infection of the oviduct, which causes the oviduct to become impacted with lash egg material (solidified pus and egg material) meaning that further eggs released from the ovary have nowhere to go except drop into the abdominal cavity. Did you identify and cut into the oviduct.... I'm thinking the mass on the top right may have come from the oviduct which might indicate that salpingitis was the original cause.

As regards the cockerel spreading it, it might be possible if it was salpingitis that caused this. Whilst there is no penetration involved, the momentary contact during mating might be enough to transfer external bacteria to the oviduct if he or she was suffering from a poopy butt.

I doubt it was a high protein diet and would think it might be more likely on a lower protein, high carbohydrate diet, but it is wise to consider diet and probably safer to keep them somewhere in the 16-22% protein range.