Reproductive issues

[Chrissy D]

@azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @MysteryChicken

Thank you all so much for being here for all of us. It truly helps. I lost my beautiful girl last night. It is always a lesson and a chance to learn more for the future birds in my flock, thanks to your compassion and willingness to help. I am heartbroken over the loss, but am grateful to have had her and thankful to have people to help me along the journey.

 

[MysteryChicken]

@azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @MysteryChicken

Thank you all so much for being here for all of us. It truly helps. I lost my beautiful girl last night. It is always a lesson and a chance to learn more for the future birds in my flock, thanks to your compassion and willingness to help. I am heartbroken over the loss, but am grateful to have had her and thankful to have people to help me along the journey.

Is it possible for you to do a necropsy?

 

[Kiki]

@Chrissy D What part of the state are you in?
You can over night the body to our state lab for a for sure answer.

You mentioned that you had some type of reproductive disorder or issue with another bird in the past... How do you know that's what happened to that bird?

Notice
There are 4 labs.
https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests/necropsy-poultry/

 

[Kiki]

I’ve been keeping chickens for 2 years now. I’ve lost one of my girls to a reproductive issue. Of course she was my favorite chicken. Now, 6 months later, have another very favorite chicken exhibiting the same signs.

Stop laying 10 days ago, Listless, not eating since yesterday, crop filled with water not emptying (not sour or impacted).

Have started supporting her with calcium citrate and poultry cell. She will eat watermelon, so giving her that. Cleared her crop this morning accidentally when carrying her to my chicken quarantine area. I have 22 chickens and with my two favorites going through this I am heartbroken.

Am I missing something obvious? Is there anything else I can do to eliminate reproductive issues? Is it possible that better bred birds are less likely to succumb to reproductive issues? Or is this something that just happens?


Feed - 16-18% protein (organic no corn, no soy) too hot in Texas to feed corn. Oyster shells and grit always available. Free ranging limited times, due to heavy predator population.

Thank you so much for your input.
Chrissy

Do you feed any scraps, scratch, worms/treats?

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry that you lost her.

 

[Chrissy D]

Is it possible for you to do a necropsy?

She is already buried. I thought about it. But also thought I need this to end. Selfish of me. I did find her on her back though, I’ve always read that is heart related. ??? She also spit up blood from her crop last night when I was taking care of her. In my heart I feel it was a tumor. ??? I feel if you can get these birds past two they can live a long life. Reproductive issues seem to show up early in their lives.

 

[MysteryChicken]

She is already buried. I thought about it. But also thought I need this to end. Selfish of me. I did find her on her back though, I’ve always read that is heart related. ??? She also spit up blood from her crop last night when I was taking care of her. In my heart I feel it was a tumor. ??? I feel if you can get these birds past two they can live a long life. Reproductive issues seem to show up early in their lives.

Internal hemorrhaging sounds like a possibly with the fact you mentioned blood being spit up from the crop. Wondering if she ate something sharp, or something else internally happened.

A necropsy can still be done(at home). Just need to unbury her, & clean her off a bit.

 

[MysteryChicken]

She is already buried. I thought about it. But also thought I need this to end. Selfish of me. I did find her on her back though, I’ve always read that is heart related. ??? She also spit up blood from her crop last night when I was taking care of her. In my heart I feel it was a tumor. ??? I feel if you can get these birds past two they can live a long life. Reproductive issues seem to show up early in their lives.

My eldest birds died naturally at the ages of 8yrs, & 8½ years of age.


What are your birds diet, including treats?

 

[Chrissy D]

Do you feed any scraps, scratch, worms/treats?

I feed my birds a well balanced diet of multiple(3) brand feeds. They also eat from my home grown garden. Greens, spinach, lettuce, squash and on hot days melons and berries. I do give BSF on a daily basis, they get a cup between 21 hens.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I feed my birds a well balanced diet of multiple(3) brand feeds. They also eat from my home grown garden. Greens, spinach, lettuce, squash and on hot days melons and berries. I do give BSF on a daily basis, they get a cup between 21 hens.

I'd cut out the extras, including the BSF. I'd cut it down to about once every 1-2 weeks.