Update on dying bird with watery diarrhea

[bosmatthews]

Thanks to dlhunicorn, SeaChick and hinkjc for advice on my sick bird, "Slate". Sadly, she died yesterday

, and I clearly have a lot to learn about diagnosing sick birds!!! What happened: By Monday morning, I was beginning to think that she must be eggbound, based on occassional appearance of straining. I finally (after MUCH searching) found a Vet who would look at her, and he confirmed that she was severly eggbound. He couldn't easily release the egg and had to anaesthesize her and cut her open some. He was unable to find any cervix, and found much internal damage and necrotic tissue inside, as well as a second egg in the queue. He thought she may have had some kind of birth defect that resulted in no cervix? Anyone ever seen that before???

Bottom line: we opted to "euthanize" her because there was no way she would be able to recover from her internal injuries.

Needless to say, this has all been sad and distressing, but I do have to admit that I'm also a bit relieved that she didn't have an infectious disease that could have wiped out ALL my birds. I hope that if I ever have an eggbound chicken again I'll be able to recognize sooner.

Thanks again to everyone for the help in troubleshooting.

 

[bantymum]

Im sorry that she was eggbound, its a horrible thing for them to go through.
Unfortunately "experience is something we get just after we needed it" this term really does apply to chickens.
It was very good of you to take her to the vet and to let her go to sleep peacefully and end her suffering.
I hope you get over this as quickly as possible.
Hugs

 

[SpottedCrow]

I'm sorry for your loss, but so glad that it was just her and nothing that could affect the rest of the flock.
I've never heard of anything like that in a bird...hmm. But I had a bird that was both male and female, so what do I know?

That's great that you had a vet that would look at her too.

 

[hinkjc]

Sorry for your loss. Just know that she is at rest now and no longer in any kind of discomfort. Eggbound is difficult to catch early, unless they show really obvious symptoms.

:aww
Jody

 

[dlhunicorn]

:aww bless you for helping her ...