My first necropsy on my lovely Matilda (graphic pic warning).

[PouleChick]

My lovely Matilda has passed away . I just went down this morning to get my little guy an egg for his brekkie and I saw her in the corner of the coop. She is a black sex link type chicken (Harco) - I did notice she was on the nest box a lot yesterday and I thought I'd double check on her and give her an all over today but it was obviously something serious I know these hybrid layers are not going to live as long as heritage breeds and are prone to reproductive issues but she was only 16 months old, I thought I'd have her a bit longer than this . She was one of my original 3 I got to start my flock Christmas 2017 and they were my babies, I carried them and handled them a lot (thier coop originally was in a lean too on the house and their run in the garden so until they learnt to follow me back and forwards I carried them). She was so lovely - probably my favorite of the 3 . Now I think of it the only thing I noticed yesterday was that she had feathers that seemed a bit thin on her butt (one of the things I was going to check on today), I now know it was swelling. Devastated I didn't want to disturb her on the nest yesterday, although after what I found it was too late by then.
RIP Matilda

So I decided I wanted to do an autopsy as I think it is important to understand why I loose chickens and as a new'ish chicken owner to have a fuller understanding of my girls. I looked up some instructions on line and went for it.
Straight away I could see that her abdomen was swollen and soft, so whilst I'd never seen it I had an idea of what it might be:

I carefully cut into her skin and pulled it away to see her abdomen better, my poor girl :

With the first tiniest cut into the abdominal cavity stinky yolk came pouring out:

And then even more:

I decided to leave it there, it was clear what had happened and I was happy with being able to do it for the first time but couldn't stomach poking around anymore. Just devastated that I didn't realise there was anything wrong - it has been raining for days so not spent much time with them. I'm guessing she got egg bound / broken egg then they just all backed up - is that right? From what I've read it is pretty hard to do anything for them but wish I'd noticed and at least tried to help her clear it.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm sorry @PouleChick
At least it seems Matilda didn't suffer for long. 16 months seems a terribly short life.
Well done for having a go at a necropsy.

 

[PouleChick]

I'm sorry @PouleChick
At least it seems Matilda didn't suffer for long. 16 months seems a terribly short life.
Well done for having a go at a necropsy.

Thanks Shad' I know she was so young. I did wonder if she would end up with repro problems down the line though as when she started laying she laid heaps of double yokers (and according to my son a triple yoker - although I didn't see it!). She was such a poppet, it was only a couple of days ago she came and sat with me on the bench while I was having a coffee. I'm really pleased I did the autopsy so there is no wondering.

 

[Ribh]

So sorry. You were brave to do the autopsy.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks Shad' I know she was so young. I did wonder if she would end up with repro problems down the line though as when she started laying she laid heaps of double yokers (and according to my son a triple yoker - although I didn't see it!). She was such a poppet, it was only a couple of days ago she came and sat with me on the bench while I was having a coffee. I'm really pleased I did the autopsy so there is no wondering.

Yup, it's a problem with high production hens.
The large egg laying and the double yolkers are likely to cause vent prolapse at some point.
Marans should be a good breed for you I would have thought. The Marans here have layed less than one hundred eggs a year on average and they don't want to sit every five minutes.
Another possibility would be the Catalan del Prat which hasn't had much human breeding interference since it was introduced.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Matilda! Bear hugs!

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

Yup, it's a problem with high production hens.
The large egg laying and the double yolkers are likely to cause vent prolapse at some point.
Marans should be a good breed for you I would have thought. The Marans here have layed less than one hundred eggs a year on average and they don't want to sit every five minutes.
Another possibility would be the Catalan del Prat which hasn't had much human breeding interference since it was introduced.

This hen was a black sex link variety, so she was a high production hen
Sorry for your loss

 

[PouleChick]

So sorry. You were brave to do the autopsy.

Thank you - I figured if I can cope with collecting babies at ceasars I can cope with a autopsy - did need a few steadying moments before though!

I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Matilda! Bear hugs!

Thank you

This hen was a black sex link variety, so she was a high production hen
Sorry for your loss

Thank you. I think Shad was just offering me some alternative ideas to the sex links.

Yup, it's a problem with high production hens.
The large egg laying and the double yolkers are likely to cause vent prolapse at some point.
Marans should be a good breed for you I would have thought. The Marans here have layed less than one hundred eggs a year on average and they don't want to sit every five minutes.
Another possibility would be the Catalan del Prat which hasn't had much human breeding interference since it was introduced.

I did wonder if it would impact, didnt' think about prolapse (does that mean I could have helped her if it was that?) - in fact there was a huge one last week - could have been hers (not sure though as there are lots with very similar colour) - well over 100g - 106 I think. I have 2 marans pullets and I'm absolutely thrilled with them - the shell colours are excellent - way up on the Marans club of France scale 7-8 and the eggs taste excellent and they have been laying so so so well since they started a month or two back. I thought that they would give you more than that? I'd say I'm getting at least 5/ week per hen here- although it is thier first laying spring. Not heard of those birds, will go and have a look.

 

[PouleChick]

Oh and I got my red and black sex links and my Sussex as my first little flock about 15 months ago. I soon learned that they weren't potentially great health wise due to thier high production (although can't fault my Sussex girl as being far behind them to be honest!) so I won't be getting any more. As you can see in my signature all my other girls are heritage breeds

 

[Chickenaddition]

Sending you some hugs @PouleChick . I am sorry your suffered a loss. Glad your other girls aren't production breeds and hope everyone else is ok.