Yellow watery diarrhea (picture included)

[Bawkbok]

I share your sentiment and can empathize. I let my beloved chicken linger far too long in her condition (Salpingitis). Reproductive issues suck and now that I know what I've learned, I won't allow it to happen again.
Don't be hard on yourself and don't feel guilty - easier said than done I know. Necropsies are also difficult but they do provide answers. We are their care givers and they are our teachers. Hugs

 

[Wyorp Rock]

*** Note to sensitive folks, necropsy photos below ***

I'm not expert enough to say where things were, nor did I spread everything out to take better notes. It was so obvious that the large masses were her problem I didn't bother with details (and don't know enough to know what details to look for). The fat was an abnormal bright yellow. I did cut open the crop and the gizzard which didn't reveal anything that looked abnormal except as little as she ate the crop was very full - perhaps her condition didn't have the body energy left to process the food? But it didn't smell sour or rotten, so ? I don't know. I'd given her some dandelion leaves cut up which she really liked and the gizzard contents were mostly bright green with a few small seeds, I presume from the little bit of scratch treats I gave her. Her body was in very poor condition - even with the full crop she was clearly starving. I did not pick her up often, she was not a lap pet even though she was friendly and I thought it would just add to her stress.

I'll state again, if I had done anything at all differently, I would have relieved her of her misery much sooner.

Pictures of necropsy:

Thank you for the photos, I know it must've been hard to do.

The oviduct was impacted with Lash material. The liver looks like it was starting to "fail".
You are right, it is obvious the masses were the problem. With laying hens I usually always start with opening the abdomen and look at the major organs first. This is usually the areas that I will find the troubles. It can be very sad to see, but it's also an opportunity to learn more about some conditions and what symptoms look like. Doesn't make it easier, but it can bring closure to know what was going on.

It can be very hard to know when to put a hen down, sometimes they can improve for a good while with supportive depending on the cause of symptoms and how advanced a condition is.

 

[Bawkbok]

Thank you @wild chick for the photos and @Wyorp Rock for the clarification......it helps us all learn.

 

[wild chick]

Thank you for the photos, I know it must've been hard to do.

And thank you for the input. I'm actually not too emotional once the deed is done. That's always the hardest and have found myself putting that off way past the point of being kind.

I'm a science and education nerd at heart, and once they are no longer alive, everything changes. I'm not heartless about it, but seriously, when the spirit of life is gone, the physical body doesn't hold the essence, so it becomes a curiosity of science. Thank you so much for extra input. I did dispatch a few young roosters for the freezer years ago and have done a few necropsies when I didn't know what was wrong with an ailing hen, so not totally new at it, just very much an amateur. Your kindness goes a long way.

Thank you @wild chick for the photos and @Wyorp Rock for the clarification......it helps us all learn.

I always want to learn and learning is only done by sharing knowledge. It's wonderful to know others feel the same way.
Thank you for you comments and caring.