Written by Heather Zubiate
This was just a few short weeks ago, when my Myrtle was the picture of healthy and vitality. Look at her sassy red comb, nice and plump, as she is chowing down with the rest of the girls. However, at this point, she had not been laying for a few months. I thought she might be about to start a molt, or maybe she was just taking a break. She wasn't egg bound, that I know. Now look at her. |
Her once plump comb is now droopy and drab instead of bright sassy red. She doesn't eat nearly enough feed like she | used to, so of course she's dropping a lot of weight, I can really feel her keel, or breast bone now. Her hiney is messy, but not as messy as a hen with vent gleet. I'm really worried. This is what her poop looks like, at least it's more solid now, it used to be more watery. According to other chicken experts, this is a sign of either liver or kidney problems. I have NO idea how this happened. All of the girls eat the same food and drink the same water, so what gives? |
This is the latest symptom:
What in the wide wide world of sports is THAT and how do I know it's from Myrtle?
This dear reader, appears to be what is called a lash egg, well, two small ones. Some chickens lay one large one about the size of an egg. I know it came from Myrtle because she is the only hen that is on walkabout, and I found this on the path outside the run where Myrtle hangs out. What in heaven's name is a LASH egg? Amazingly, I can't find a clinical definition on the Merck Veterinarian website or any vet glossary or website. There's egg peritonitis, egg drop syndrome, abnormal eggs such as pimpled or dimpled, yolkless, soft shell etc. nothing official about lash eggs. That means there is a super technical medical term out there that Vets use for this really gross, uh, situation and I found it on that narcissist's website - The Chicken Chick ®.
The term the Vets use is caseous exudate. Yep I was right, it's super technical. I won't tell you what that means in English, because it might ruin a certain food for you forever!
If you want to read the article, it is mostly written by Dr. Annika McKillop, who does a great job of putting all of the technical jargon in plain English. I've read some of the technical stuff, and now I need an aspirin and a nap. And the best part is that the arti-cle doesn't have any annoying content from Ms. Mormino, which is always a plus. But remember, should you read her earlier post about the same topic, you will be subjected to her opinions and bad advice. Also, I must warn you that if you dare to correct her, or give her better information, watch out; you'll be blocked and your comment will be removed. These days she does the approve before post thing, which to me means that she gets a lot of "bad" comments. I only include the more recent article here because it's good and accurate information, and that's because it's given by a real avian vet. Besides, it's not Dr. Annika McKillop's fault that Ms. Mormino is a narcissist.
This dear reader, appears to be what is called a lash egg, well, two small ones. Some chickens lay one large one about the size of an egg. I know it came from Myrtle because she is the only hen that is on walkabout, and I found this on the path outside the run where Myrtle hangs out. What in heaven's name is a LASH egg? Amazingly, I can't find a clinical definition on the Merck Veterinarian website or any vet glossary or website. There's egg peritonitis, egg drop syndrome, abnormal eggs such as pimpled or dimpled, yolkless, soft shell etc. nothing official about lash eggs. That means there is a super technical medical term out there that Vets use for this really gross, uh, situation and I found it on that narcissist's website - The Chicken Chick ®.
The term the Vets use is caseous exudate. Yep I was right, it's super technical. I won't tell you what that means in English, because it might ruin a certain food for you forever!
If you want to read the article, it is mostly written by Dr. Annika McKillop, who does a great job of putting all of the technical jargon in plain English. I've read some of the technical stuff, and now I need an aspirin and a nap. And the best part is that the arti-cle doesn't have any annoying content from Ms. Mormino, which is always a plus. But remember, should you read her earlier post about the same topic, you will be subjected to her opinions and bad advice. Also, I must warn you that if you dare to correct her, or give her better information, watch out; you'll be blocked and your comment will be removed. These days she does the approve before post thing, which to me means that she gets a lot of "bad" comments. I only include the more recent article here because it's good and accurate information, and that's because it's given by a real avian vet. Besides, it's not Dr. Annika McKillop's fault that Ms. Mormino is a narcissist.
Anyway, it seems that my little Myrtle, depending on what kind of infection she has, may not make it, or lay eggs anymore. So I will do my best to keep her comfy and happy until she either succumbs or makes a miraculous recovery. If I see her in pain, then LORD give me strength, I'll have to cull her.