I called tons of vets today, even the vet school, and nobody knew, but each time I would ask for a lead to someone who might.
One vet said call the Fitchburg Animal Hospital, and I told the receptionist "It looks like my chicky's intestines are on the outside."
A vet got on the phone and said (without waiting for any response) "Hello, your chicken has a prolapsed cloaka, how soon can you get it here?"
I told him that sounded expensive and he said no, it's not too bad.
I rushed Disco up there and the vet took Disco from me. He came back 2 minutes later and told me the bad news. It was too late, I waited too long and it looked like the other chicky had pecked at it. I told him to go ahead and euthenize him.
The vet came back a minute later and said that when he picked Disco up, Disco pooped in his hand, which meant that the parts were still working, so he wanted to give it a try. He pushed his intestines back in, cleaned Disco up and put in a stitch to hold things in place. He was to keep Disco until 6, and if Disco survived that long, there was a 90% chance of survival.
I left and came home and prayed for the phone not to ring. At 4, it did. The vet was sorry, but Disco had likely had a bloodclot that was flushed loose of the intestines when they were put back in the right place, and had died.
So, poor little Sparkles is now all alone.
I know I broke a rule, but I candled the other 8 eggs tonight. They should have hatched yesterday or today, but they didn't, so I just did it, I couldn't stand not knowing.
I think they have all died.
I saw no movement at all, not even a ripple.
They were all alive on day 18, with Disco and Funky being so lively in the shell, it appeard they might break out then and there.
A farmer near here said go ahead and break them open, maybe you can figure out why they died.
I can't do that. I don't have the stomach for this much death. I will just leave them incubate for a day or two more and then toss them out.
This is why I am not a farmer.
Thanks for all your thoughts.
Kathy
