Rosemary's Necropsy Photos....WARNING! GRAPHIC!

[patandchickens]

Quote:
I would guess it's not just that, it's probably equally or moreso the fact that the HATCHERIES want breeding stock that will lay an egg every day. Just cuz that's more profitable (can sell more chicks for the same amount of feed consumption). (Yes, i realize most hatcheries subcontract the egg production but that doesn't change the economics of it)

FWIW, my ISA Browns that've done so poorly in the longevity department did not recieve any supplemental light -- and I live in Ontario so believe me they had plenty short days last winter

They did not slow down much in laying though (not because of anything I did but just, apparently, b/c of being genetically predisposed to ignore light cues).


Pat

 

[BlueMoon]

Can lights deplete calcium? Do you need another vitamin to absorb calcium (D?)

 

[speckledhen]

Interesting video, John. Thanks for posting the link.

Pat, your high production birds didn't have supplemental light, so perhaps it was just that the sphincter was "loosened" and allowed feces to be sucked into the oviduct and caused the ecoli infection that resulted in building these "tumors". In the book "Diseases of Poultry" (which is available in parts online), that's what the paragraphs on salpingitis say. It's a good argument for not making them lay anymore than they normally would by extending the daylight; if they are already predisposed to this condition, why exacerbate it, right?

 

[mainchick]

this has been the most amazing and interesting thread I would like to read more about the science around this issue! great pix too.

 

[ivan3]

Can lights deplete calcium?

I'm guessing that forcing a molt would exact the heaviest toll on calcium stores?

This is a good jumping off point for lot's of info on lighting/forced molting/etc. http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/molting/molting2.htm#contents

I particularly liked this abstract:

Mondini S (1980). Cannibalism due to earthquake in laying hens after forced moult. [Cannibalismo (da terremoto?) in ovaiole da consumo in muta forzata]. Clinica Veterinaria 103(7): 456-458.

Ist. Allevamenti Zootecnici, Universita, Bologna, Italy

NAL Call Number: 41.8 C61

When a previously successful method was used to induce moult in 7107 hens, 224 (3%) died in the following 10 days as a result of cannibalism. This had not occurred in the 400 000 already treated, the only difference this time being an earth tremor of intensity IV on the Mercalli scale on the day after moult induction.

Descriptors: etiology, disasters, moulting, cannibalism

Copyright

2002, CAB International

there is much we do not know...​

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Oh Cynthia, I'm so sorry to hear that you've lost another one of your original hatchery girls.

I know it has to be so frustrating. That's how I felt losing my RIR, Rosemary also. Mine wasn't even a yr and half old yet. I was just to shocked to follow through with the necropsy.

Thanks for sharing your findings. I am truly sorry that you lost your sweet Rosemary.

 

[speckledhen]

At least if anyone decides to open up one of their deceased girls, they'll know what they are looking at if she's an internal layer. Sorry about your Rosemary, too.

 

[Cetawin]

Cyn I am so sorry about Rosemary but thank you so very much for showing us what was going on. That poor girl must have been absolutely miserable bless her heart.

 

[EweSheep]

This is VERY interesting! Too bad I didnt open up my egg bound, internal layer girls to find out what is the problem. Some didnt get sick except not eating.

I wish there is a poultry vet on this website!

 

[ozark hen]

Quote:
From all we are learning from these threads....we may come to the point where we won't have to have a vet

I am trying to save a lot of these posts in a separate folder so I will have info on hand in case something ever happens here ...

hope it never comes my way!!