R.I.P. Dottie my Wyandotte

[OneEyedDawn]

I have been putting off writing this post but my golden laced Wyandotte died two weeks ago from an internal egg laying problem. I am writing this post in case this info is helpful to anyone.
I noticed Dottie didn't walk around much Friday and I thought I would keep an eye on her during the weekend. Well on Saturday she did the same and i thought she might be egg bound. So i gave her a warm water bath and monitored her. On Sunday she seemed almost lethargic and very sleepy. On Monday morning I opened the cage and threw in some treats but she never moved. She sat as far from the entrance as possible with her body away. I was afraid she already died.
I got her out and started another bath and called an avian vet. I was able to get her in to an emergency visit that day. Unfortunately they called to inform me she passed a few hours later. The vet said they gave her some oat concentrated vitamins and she picked right up and looked great. Then she had a seizure and died instantly.
The vet asked to proceed with an autopsy and I said yes as I was very concerned the rest of my ladies would be effected. She later informed me that Dottie had been internally passing eggs into her intestines and she was basically filled with hard boiled like scrambled eggs which caused an internal infection. Poor girl never showed any signs.
Apparently this is a hereditary thing that I never could have prevented.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about Dottie
Thank you for sharing with us.

You mention the vet said she was internally passing eggs into her intestines and was basically filled with hard boiled like scrambled eggs.
Did the vet mean that the oviduct was impacted with egg material or was the material in the abdomen? Hens can suffer from impacted oviducts, infection of the oviduct (Salpingitis) this can also impact the oviduct, they can lay internally (Internal Laying) eggs are found in the abdominal cavity and they can have egg yolks/albumen reverse and drop into the abdominal cavity (Egg Yolk Peritonitis). Eggs and egg material can't be passed into the intestines but they sure can travel back up the oviduct, cause blockages and/or be deposited into the abdomen.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Sorry for your loss

 

[MandaRae]

Awww I'm so sorry about Dottie
Animal chi be like that sometimes. They don't show how sick they are until it's too late.

 

[Sequel]

I'm so sorry for your loss! Thanks for sharing your experience so we can learn! Take care!

Cathy

 

[dalguiyeowang]

Oh dear. I am really sorry to hear about your loss. It hurts. Thinking of you and thank you for sharing your story. While it doesn't help your current situation, your post might help someone. Hang in there.

 

[OneEyedDawn]

I'm sorry to hear about Dottie
Thank you for sharing with us.

You mention the vet said she was internally passing eggs into her intestines and was basically filled with hard boiled like scrambled eggs.
Did the vet mean that the oviduct was impacted with egg material or was the material in the abdomen? Hens can suffer from impacted oviducts, infection of the oviduct (Salpingitis) this can also impact the oviduct, they can lay internally (Internal Laying) eggs are found in the abdominal cavity and they can have egg yolks/albumen reverse and drop into the abdominal cavity (Egg Yolk Peritonitis). Eggs and egg material can't be passed into the intestines but they sure can travel back up the oviduct, cause blockages and/or be deposited into the abdomen.

You know, I am really not sure. :/
The vet explained it to me and it went over my head. I just understood it to mean that the ovaries were expelling the eggs but they were not going to where they normally should. And when I say eggs I don't mean the kind we eat but the kind that is in all females. As you can tell I am not a medical expert by any means and I should have asked for more clarification but I was a little overwhelmed at the time. Thanks for sharing this is helpful to know so I don't explain it incorrectly to anyone else.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You know, I am really not sure. :/
The vet explained it to me and it went over my head. I just understood it to mean that the ovaries were expelling the eggs but they were not going to where they normally should. And when I say eggs I don't mean the kind we eat but the kind that is in all females. As you can tell I am not a medical expert by any means and I should have asked for more clarification but I was a little overwhelmed at the time. Thanks for sharing this is helpful to know so I don't explain it incorrectly to anyone else.

I understand. It's hard to keep everything straight when you are overwhelmed.
GLW's are beautiful birds, do you have any photos of your sweet girl you would like to share with us.

 

[Kathy Golla]

I have a GLW. They are extremely kind and social birds.
I’m so sorry for your loss.

 

[OneEyedDawn]

I understand. It's hard to keep everything straight when you are overwhelmed.
GLW's are beautiful birds, do you have any photos of your sweet girl you would like to share with us.

She was my least social bird but thinking back she may not have been feeling very good and just preferred to be alone. This is from February. She was 6 months old.