RIP, Maxie GRAPHIC Educational Necropsy Photos of Cause of Death

[annie3001]

wow. that is amazing pictures. sorry for your loss.

 

[ruth]

I'm sorry for your loss Cyn but thanks for taking the time to post the information and pictures. I learn so much from you.

I'm really starting to wonder if there is something in your water source, if not their feed source, that could be causing this. Like you said, they are very similar to women's reproductive systems and maybe there is water or feed that is causing this condition. When it was just your hatchery birds, I could almost buy into the theory that it was a hatchery bird problem but many people on here have hatchery birds and aren't seeing this condition - but now it's happening to your breeder stock and that really concerns me. If I were you, I would send off a sample of your local drinking water to be tested - maybe there are high levels of something that could be contributing to this.

 

[speckledhen]

Monique, I can't imagine that the drinking water is a problem. We had it tested when we bought this place and it had nothing bad except what is considered normal ecoli from being stagnant (it was an estate). We shocked it with bleach at that time and it's been in use ever since. We just had a new well pump put in and the well was bleached very well at that time. It's really good tasting well water, no chlorine, flouride, etc. and we are up on a mtn in a rural area so can't imagine any bad runoff.


ETA: this is the first hen in this particular condition. It appears that the egg was so huge that it may have perforated the oviduct and dropped into the abdomen, so perhaps it wasn't technically internal laying.

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Ouch - poor girl.

As far as the water, it was just a wild guess. We had a small pond in Covington that run off water from our three heat pumps discharged into. Well water went into the units and then through them and emptied into our pond. The fish started dying. Every time we stocked it, they died - actually disappeared but we could only surmise they were dying and egrets and birds were eating them but one time there were a bunch of floaters. The pond water was testing okay.

Then one day the copper pipes in our slab starting getting small leaks - pin holes - and our floors started flooding. The copper pipes ran through the slab after coming from the well (pvc from well to slab, copper in slab). So, we had the water tested straight from the well and it was so acidic it could have been battery acid.

Tested at the highest end of acid level. It had eaten through the copper pipes. Not sure if it had always been acidic (since house was 20 years old at that point) or if it was something more recent. I do know we had the water tested when we bought the place and it tested "potable". Thank goodness we weren't drinking it, only using it for heat pumps and watering yard. Ever since then, I think about testing water when anything "odd" occurs.

Our drinking water was "city" water and every year we would get a notice that they had failed the safety test and every year they swore the test was wrong and the water was good to drink. I guess I just don't trust our water sources anymore.

 

[kbryant]

I had the same thing happen this tuesday 11/16/10 I don't know how to upload pictures so if someone can help me.

 

[Chick-a-roos]

Quote:
I copied this from a thread.....search "upload photos". It's actually pretty easy once you have done it a few times.

How to Post / Add Pictures To Your Posts & MessagesTo Post Photos On BYC Forum:

The easiest way to display your coop, chickens, and other fun pictures on BYC is to use the BYC Image Upload Tool . Here are the steps:

1) Click on the "Uploads " link at the very top of every page (in the blue menu bar).
2) Once the "Upload image" page loads, click the "Browse" button and find the jpg or gif picture on your computer and then click the "Submit" button.
3) Your image will be uploaded (and resized if needed) and you will be presented with a thumbnail of your picture along with two image code options:

Thumb - This is the code you use to show a small version of your image that can be clicked to show the full size image.
Image - This is the code you use to show the full size image directly in your post.

4) Copy the image code and paste it into your post.

 

[geebs]

thanks for sharing your experience... Sorry it was at such a cost...

 

[Suzie]

Hi Cynthia,

Thank you for the informative and graphic images of the Educational Necropsy of the cause of death of Maxie.

You have so much knowledge and you are the best Mum ever! I wish I could say that I had some knowledge to help my chickens when they are in need - all I can do is ensure they have good food and fresh water, they free range and are as happy as I am able to make them.

You have suffered so much heartache and my thoughts are with you at this difficult time - but please be assured that there are MANY of us out there in this world that acknowledge and respect your expertise in looking after our chickens - wish you were nearby so I could call in on you whenever I needed reassurance or help in any way!

I have nothing but admiration for you and your family for giving us so much!

Thank you!

Suzie

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does this happen with all breeds of chickens or is it specific to certain breeds? I hope this isn't a stupid question if so apologies

 

[Illia]

It can be genetic, and it can also happen to any random chicken. So, really, there's no breed specifics, but bad breeding can introduce it to a strain.


So sorry for you loss though, but hey, you did exactly what I'd do - And I find those photos so interesting, and gosh, that would have been painful. Wish I did this with my last Brahma - I labeled her death's cause as being eggbound, but I wasn't 100% sure.