First Loss… Why Did She Pass So Suddenly? EYP?

[franciemayhem]

Yesterday, I lost my first chicken, Lucy, who was also my first pet. As a small animal veterinarian with limited knowledge of chicken medicine, I’m struggling to understand her sudden death and would appreciate insights from the chicken community.

She had been acting normal all day—eating, foraging, and resting by my side while I studied. That night, I moved her to her usual sleeping spot on the windowsill. About an hour later, I heard her panting. She was disoriented, had a pale comb, couldn’t stand, and her abdomen felt mildly squishy cranially and firm distally. She passed yolk-colored stools and had a lump on the left side of her neck that I hadn’t noticed before.

I massaged her crop and neck throughout the night, kept her warm, and gave her yogurt and an antibiotic, which she managed to swallow. Despite my efforts, she started convulsing and gasping before passing away in my arms.

Based on my research, I suspect egg yolk peritonitis (EYP) as the cause. She was 1.4 years old and stopped laying eggs 6–8 months ago. I wanted to confirm with a necropsy but it all happened so quickly that by the time I sat down to think… my father had buried her and I didn’t want to dig her back up and open my own pet. At that point I wanted to let her rest.

Can EYP take a seemingly healthy chicken so quickly, with little warning? I’m struggling to accept how fast this happened and would love any advice or similar experiences.

I am so sorry for your loss. If it’s any consolation, you took care of her very well in her final hours. She passed away in the arms of her friend.

 

[YaySlee]

She was a beauty! I wish you all the best in your chosen career and encourage you to follow our Educators on the threads here, you will learn so much. Look for a little black "badge" beside their names that says "Educator," some I depend on most are Wyorp Rock, Eggcessive, azygous, aart, coach723, (these folks esp for injuries and ailments), RidgeRunner (behavior) U_Stormcrow (nutrition), Shadrach (roosters) and DobieLover (housing among other things). There are many, many knowledgeable people here, rich in experience, and all more than willing to share and help the "newbie" any way they can. Please make yourself at home. Oh, and if you want to "tag" or call anybody into your thread, just type their name with an @ symbol before it and no space between.

Thank you! I’ll make sure to give them a follow and stay connected.

 

[YaySlee]

I am so sorry for your loss. If it’s any consolation, you took care of her very well in her final hours. She passed away in the arms of her friend.

Thank you. I am happy I was there and she didn’t sleep that night in her coop.