Possible Necrotic Foot ? (GRAPHIC PHOTO!) RIP, Vada

[Cetawin]

I am so sorry Cyn. Hug Tom and tell him that we know there was nothing that could be done. the little girls just do not tell us when they feel bad and we do not know it until it is near too late.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, the alternative was to do nothing. And you just can't leave that stuff in the foot. If we had left it, she would have died from the laying issues she was apparently having anyway, I'm sure, or her foot infection would have gone systemic anyway. She was way too thin for just being off her feed for a few days, something you don't notice unless you pick each one up regularly, which leads me to believe that she was close to exhibiting the behavior that we always see in our internal layers. Vada wasn't one who liked to be held much. So, I've told him that he did not cause this. He's been a great surgeon for these girls, as much as you can be without good anesthetic, for years. None have had issues like this, ever. Heck, my big girl, Meg, has had worse bumblefoot in both feet at once multiple times. She is very heavy, plus her feet are oddly shaped and the pad hits the ground at an odd angle, which we've decided is why she always has this problem herself, but all the multiple surgeries we've done on her have never gone wrong.
Someone mentioned an immune deficiency of some sort and that may have a bearing here, just no way to know. DH did say, "I do not want to cut her open, not this time." So, we just buried her under the white pine where Rosemary and Ruby are.

 

[gumpsgirl]

I'm so sorry Cyn.

 

[WriterofWords]

You did your best and it was over and above what most will do our feathered buddies.

 

[threehorses]

I'm very sorry that things turned out the way that they did, but know you both did your absolute best.

If you'd still like to try to solve the mystery, I have a question below. If not, I'll leave the post off here with just big hugs: /hug!!





Have you considered the possibility that she had tumors of the sort that Marek's produces? There's a slide show within this presentation that when I saw it I thought of dear Vada and had to wonder:

http://www.canadianpoultry.ca/cms_pdfs/MarekTroubleshootingMontiel081905.pdf

 

[thewarriorchild]

Sorry for your loss

 

[speckledhen]

No, Mareks doesnt fit at all. That is some slide show, though, threehorses! I'll bookmark it because it has awesome pictures!

Actually, I think I know exactly what was stalking Vada. We did open up every one of the girls who died of similar symptoms. We found the solidified infection and backed up egg materials of an internal layer in each one of them. Every organ was glowingly healthy, liver, heart, intestines, no tumors anywhere. Just the oviduct full of that "stuff". I believe Vada was compromised by all that nastiness going on and simply could not fight the staff infection in her foot.

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Oh Cyn, I am so sorry for you! I wish I could have helped you, but unfortunately I have more experience with taking care of people vs. chickens. You did everything you could. You were a wonderful hen momma. Your dear Vada was so lucky to have you... but it's never easy to help a beloved pet cross the rainbow bridge.

God Bless & I will be praying for you-
Terrah

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
I felt so horrible even asking. But I figured you'd want a chance to see just in case because I hadn't seen anything like that quite. And yes, it's quite the site - I'm glad it will be of use. Still I felt awful.

I think you're right about Vada, though, and the possible internal laying. Just still is heartbreaking. I hope that that's it for bad stuff for you and your flock. You take such good care of them, it's just not really fair. But at least your birds are lucky to have you.

Take care.

 

[speckledhen]

No problem asking the question, Nathalie. I appreciate any and all input. And I love it when I find very clear pictures like those in the link you gave me! It sure helps. I took pictures of the laymans' necropsies we did on the other girls just to try to find comparison photos as good as those in the slide show.
I appreciate all the support. Losing a bird around here is a big deal. They are all special in their own way, though some are more lap chickens than others.