I have a half Polish Crested and half Amaraucana girl, who laid her first egg yesterday about 4 pm. I had put her in a pen by herself so I would know when she started laying. When I went to her pen this morning she would not get up or move. I could find nothing wrong with her and so I carried her around for about an hour and returned her to her pen. That was when I found her egg. She has not moved or eaten all day. She is very much alive but will not move or get up. The egg was about the size of a banty. Could she have hurt herself internally with such a small egg? Has anyone every experienced anything like this? Any ideas would be appreciated. Haystack.
This is a first for me!
Gee, not sure about that. Sounds strange to me.
Hmmmm....is it possible she's gone broody already?!
At first I searched the pen to see if there was a nail, or secew, protruding that might have injured her. Nothing. I went out after posting and picked her up and I could tell she was miserable. Just minutes ago I buried her. She just passed away in my arms. I have no clue? I checked the vent area, nothing. No signs. I have to believe it had something to do with her first egg. She was vibrant before that egg. This is a mystery. I have heard of women dying in child birth and thought maybe the egg was just to difficult or stressful for her? Thanks Haystack
Oh, Haystack! I am sooooo sorry to hear this, how tragic that she would die so soon after her first egg. My heart goes out to you. It is so unfair that she should die so young. I know she is clucking fondly for you from the other side of rainbow bridge. Deep peace be in your heart, and hers.
Claire
Thank you Mox for your kind words. Loved the pic. She was special, she used to always come over and sit with me and ride on my shoulder. There was a roo that was raised with her and he just looks so lost. This was a hard one. Mostly not understanding how to help her. Thanks again. Hay
So sorry for your loss, Hay........think I'm glad you were there for her though...
Haystack, i am so sorry for the loss of your "baby". they are all special to us..no clue what happened, maybe the stress of that first egg was too much for her.
you'll see her again someday when we all cross the rainbow bridge..
(((((HUGS)))))
cindy
Wow.. that is a weird one... and so sad! Had to be internal.. she might have bled, that's all I can think of for it to be that rapid..
I'm so sorry Haystack.
Claire, those are beautiful words..
Many thanks to all of you!!! It always helps to be able to share with those who understand.
Some losses are harder than others, this was a tough one. Your all beautiful! Hay
I googled "sudden death laying pullet" and there were a lot of possibilities. Calcium imbalance leading to cardiac arrythmia, sudden cardiac arrest due to being overweight (mostly broilers), internal hemmorahge due to pressure on a diseased spleen, etc.
I think laying is just very stressful for a young bird. She probably had some other problem and laying just was too much for her. I have a crippled Silkie that is reaching laying age and I am pretty worried about her. The vet suggested that she may be so compromised that she will never lay anyway--but I am still concerned.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Hey.. I just realized that rainbow pic is at your place Clarie! Isn't it?? It's beautiful... I wanna pitch a tent at the pot o gold.
Haystack.. you are a beautiful person too.. that's why you fit in so well here.. we all share your pain and your triumphs!
Yup ZZ, that rainbow was 2 days ago here. Double rainbow if you look closely. It was beautiful. It was funny because I posted a pic of it on my facebook page the same time a bunch of other Iowans posted it so we all looked like we had taken pics of the same rainbow even though we were in different parts of the state.
I have a bunch of birds approaching laying age and I worry the same way. I tell them all, "if you don't want to lay, you don't have to!"
I have a dozen getting ready to lay too.. I am nervous.
Quite a few have started.. and wow.. One that was purchased as an "Olive Egger" lays the biggest green/blue egg ever! I gotta find out who she is. :)
BTW Haystack.. The blue Marans started laying day before yesterday.. good sized beautiful brown egg!
Haystack, I'm so sorry about your girl. That's the part I hate about animals...
I'm so sorry Hay!
Haystack
So very sorry for your loss. I have never heard of that happening. She sounds like a special girl and I am sure you miss her very much.
Thank you all so very much for you kindness, and the time you took to express it. Once again thats the beauty of this forum. The kind people and the wonderful animals and fowl. we all share in.
I'm in my seventies, and just today my wife said to me, "Honey" "there must be some great people on that forum, I can see the change in you"!!! Now thats not blowing smoke. Thats what she said. It is true, you have all affected me for good. And she (My dear wife said it couldn't be done)"LOL Man it feels good to have the last laugh. OK So I'm not totally changed. Haystack
We should all try to absorb the goodness around us and not be affected by the bad. I know it is easier said than done but 'tis a noble endeavor.
Speaking of noble endeavors: Haystack did you ever finish your account about the sloppy but reformable lady chicken farmer you met? How about the barn you were fixing up for the computer- wizard chicken-man? Did I miss something?
Oh Great Uncle, I am so sorry about your little pullet. That is a terrible thing to happen at any age. I know how much you love your chickens. {{HUGS}} She is not in pain anymore now and she had a great life with you. I am sending you my warmest wishes and thoughts. Please know how much you mean to me. ♥
Hi Porkpal, as always so good to talk with you. The egg lady really did make an honest effort.
But sometimes I think I'm kind of a jerk. She doesn't clean the eggs and the nesting boxes. I can't eat or sell something that makes me feel yuky. I finally told her I would not be needing more eggs, and just let it go at that. Another thing that bothered me was when I asked about the little goat she had offered me, she told me it was fine but was going to be slaughtered at four months old. That did not set well with me. Nothing personal, but it really upset me. If I hadn't held it it probably wouldn't have bothered me, but I did hold it.
The guy I helped with the chicken pen, and was helping me with the computer! He flew the coop, no pun intended. I went to his house and his wife told me she had no idea where he was and had not seen him in days. I must be a jinx, I was to shocked to respond. I just left. You know Porkpal some things are to weird to explain. I have only one more strike and I'll be out. LOL Haystack
Hi Sweetie: Gosh how I miss you. That was the strangest experience, I could not hardly believe what was happening. I felt so completly at a loss as to how to help her. I petted her, I talked to her, I examined her and could find nothing. The egg was my only clue. It must for some reason hurt her internally. But it was so small, like a banty egg. The poor roo that was hatched and raised with her always looks at me like, What have you done with her? The first night she was gone he would not come in. He spent the night out, I think he was looking for her. Thanks for you kind words. You are always so precious. I can't help myself I do love you. Great Uncle Haystack
Just got back on the net after a few days. Hay, I'm so sorry about your hen. Some things just happen before you even know there's something to worry about. But she knew she was loved, and that counts more than anything. {{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}
Thanks and good to see you back Brigidlilly. Now remember you can't go away again without telling us, K. Haystack