RIR with Diarrhea, Pasty Vent, Lethargic, Distended belly, No appetite, etc.....HELP?

[RachaelLJ]

I am just wondering if this could have been something other than reproductive issues, as the family we bought them from assured us that they were all young; if that was true she would have been under 6 mos. Just trying to narrow down a little bit the list of infections/viruses this might have been. I am thinking it was neither of those, though, since none of the other girls are showing any symptoms whatsoever. As far as reproductive problems, if it were that, I feel like it was probably internal laying or peritonitis. Maybe she actually was an older bird, who knows?

 

[Fred's Hens]

These birds don't need to have a laying history to have reproductive issues. In certain scenarios, the bird never effectively lays. She lays internally from the get go. The infection sets in and spreads. Again, without a necropsy, it would prove difficult to know for certain, but the re-counting of your experience so closely matches this diagnosis, that I just thought you'd appreciate knowing.

Again, it is a sad thing. Kudos to you for being merciful to her, even though it is a hard thing to do.

 

[RachaelLJ]

Thanks. I am *somewhat* regretting my decision on the RIR's, they weren't my first choice to begin with, but around here, if you don't want to drive 1-2 hrs. to buy chickens and are not prepared for ordering 25 chicks minimum, there's not a whole lot of selection. I'm very happy with my girls so far, but I guess I didn't realize how, apparently, top laying strains are so susceptible to reproductive problems. It does make sense, though. I'll be keeping a very close eye on the rest of my flock.

 

[off-grid hen]

Sorry you went through that with your hen. I had to put a hen down earlier this year from the same thing. She was so water-filled, I thought she was going to pop when I picked her up.

I am regretting not sending her to Cornell for necropsy. This hen was a partridge rock, and not a prolific laying breed. She was about a year old. If this happens again, I will send the bird off to the lab. I would do it myself, but I don't know what I'm looking for. After reading a bit here on BYC, I know I did the right thing with putting her down, though I struggled with it. Take care.