Possibly An Internal Layer *GRAPHIC PICS*

[Mimi13]

I am sorry you lost sweet Butter. The way you described Biscuit missing her brought a little tear in my eye and lump in my throat.

Stellar job on the necropsy and photos. Thank you so much for sharing!

As far as laying and molting at the same time, I’ve seen it twice in my flock, both with very soft, subtle molts. One died from fatty liver. The other is the one hen I wonder about being too fat. Does anyone know the relationship (if any) between continuous laying and fatty liver? I read only laying hens get this syndrome, but don’t recall the source.

Thank you very much, Michelle. I will just have to live on Biscuit a little bit more to get her over this hump.

The laying and molting thing is strange. I will guess my three hens that are still laying (BPR, BCM, & RIR) have had “soft” molts, compared to their flock mates anyway. I also would like to know the correlation between fatty liver and continuous laying. Very interesting.

 

[Suedan]

Thank you so much for sharing and I am so sorry for your loss.
Is the diagnosis ascities? And is that secondary to a specific disease process? I am new to the chicken world and read as much as I can to learn. Thank you once again for sharing.

 

[Mimi13]

Thank you so much for sharing and I am so sorry for your loss.
Is the diagnosis ascities? And is that secondary to a specific disease process? I am new to the chicken world and read as much as I can to learn. Thank you once again for sharing.

Thank you very much. I honestly don’t know what her diagnosis would be for sure as no professional saw her or has seen the pictures I took of the necropsy. I do plan on showing them to my vet soon, though.

I am like you in the fact I read as much as I can to learn and in some of that reading I’ve learned that ascites can be a result of either a heart or liver problem. And, most likely, the chicken is genetically predispositioned for ascites, or so I’ve read. I won’t try to describe it for fear I’ll state something erroneously and it isn’t my plan to mislead someone. I have found this article very helpful.
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...itions-of-poultry/ascites-syndrome-in-poultry

I will say though that I did not find her heart or liver to look troubling. (In my limited experience, that is.)

Unfortunately, we (chicken keepers) seem to learn from times like this, so I can’t say it’s all bad, but I do hate that I had to lose her. But, she is better off now. Isn’t that what we are supposed to say anyway?

 

[Suedan]

Thank you very much. I honestly don’t know what her diagnosis would be for sure as no professional saw her or has seen the pictures I took of the necropsy. I do plan on showing them to my vet soon, though.

I am like you in the fact I read as much as I can to learn and in some of that reading I’ve learned that ascites can be a result of either a heart or liver problem. And, most likely, the chicken is genetically predispositioned for ascites, or so I’ve read. I won’t try to describe it for fear I’ll state something erroneously and it isn’t my plan to mislead someone. I have found this article very helpful.
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...itions-of-poultry/ascites-syndrome-in-poultry

I will say though that I did not find her heart or liver to look troubling. (In my limited experience, that is.)

Unfortunately, we (chicken keepers) seem to learn from times like this, so I can’t say it’s all bad, but I do hate that I had to lose her. But, she is better off now. Isn’t that what we are supposed to say anyway?

Yes, absolutely! You are amazing and I highly respect all that you did for her and your strength in helping her when it was time.
Thank you for sharing and providing this as education. There are so many ailments that keep resurfacing in threads, I know I will face them one day, I try to absorb as much as I can to be emotionally and mentality prepared to hopefully handle them with grace. Thank you so much for sharing. I will read the link, thank you!

 

[Mimi13]

There are so many ailments that keep resurfacing in threads, I know I will face them one day, I try to absorb as much as I can to be emotionally and mentality prepared to hopefully handle them with grace.

Yes, unfortunately this is in a chicken keeper’s job description.

 

[Suedan]

Yes, unfortunately this is in a chicken keeper’s job description.

Well said.

 

[Sequel]

Oh I’m so sorry for you and Butter! Truly an excellent document the rest of us can learn from! Thank you so much for letting us follow your experience. To you for being a top shelf chicken keeper who really took responsibility which imho is the ultimate expression of love for those in your care.

 

[Mimi13]

Oh I’m so sorry for you and Butter! Truly an excellent document the rest of us can learn from! Thank you so much for letting us follow your experience. To you for being a top shelf chicken keeper who really took responsibility which imho is the ultimate expression of love for those in your care.

Thank you for being so kind. I do appreciate it.