A very sad day...My 22 wk old Black Sex Link went from her usual fun, feisty self to a very sick chicken overnight. We woke yesterday to find her lethargic, not interested in food at all and drinking very little. She then passed what looked just like an egg without a shell but very bloody. She would stand or lay around all day and occassionally pass what looked like pale yellow goop sometimes with blood, sometimes not. We gave her warm baths, felt inside for any broken shell or egg and found nothing. I took her to the vet ER that treats livestock (don't laugh at me) and they xrayed her, found no shell of any kind. They felt something firm inside and said that it may have been another egg forming. They gave her fluids and an antibiotic shot for infection since she had a temp. of 104. Sent us home with more oral antibiotics and a follow up appt. She seeped liquids (assuming the fluids they gave her) from her mouth and then died a few short hours later. The vet really didn't have any idea why she was dying, other than maybe an infection from a wounded claw that she had injured last week. There was no swelling or outward sign of an infection on the wound site, however. The "egg" that she passed may have been stress induced from infection is what they said. I wish there was a definitive answer to her illness, so I can be sure the other hens are fine (we have 5 others).
They free range our suburban backyard most of the day and are on layer crumbles. They have access to oyster shell, crumbles and water at all times. Favorite treats are yogurt, fruit and parsley. They have not ever been wormed--is that something I should do? Other than the claw injury, there has never been any problems with any of them. Only one of the hens, a BO, has been laying. We have been gifted perfect eggs every day for over 2 weeks from her.
Any ideas or experiences with similar situations would be greatly appreciated!
They free range our suburban backyard most of the day and are on layer crumbles. They have access to oyster shell, crumbles and water at all times. Favorite treats are yogurt, fruit and parsley. They have not ever been wormed--is that something I should do? Other than the claw injury, there has never been any problems with any of them. Only one of the hens, a BO, has been laying. We have been gifted perfect eggs every day for over 2 weeks from her.
Any ideas or experiences with similar situations would be greatly appreciated!
