Professor Mendel's Post Mortem

On 11th May, we could not stand to see Professor Mendel suffer any more, so decided to cull her to end her misery. Her condition had worsened, she could hardly walk, and her comb and wattles had turned so completely purple that they were almost black. Mendel's death was rather mysterious. I needed to find out how she died in order to prevent possible disease spreading to the rest of the flock. So I gave Mendel a post-mortem.

Below: Professor Mendel, with discoloured comb and wattles.

Post Mortem Findings

Hopefully these pictures will serve a purpose by simply being available for others to compare their own post-mortem findings to.

This is only a basic post-mortem, I did not carry out a full post-mortem.

1 - Chicken body lying on its back, head end to the left, tail end to the right. Chest opened and skin drawn back to reveal organs in situ. The lobes of the liver are grossly enlarged.

2 - Body cavity opened further in direction of tail. Lobes of liver moved aside - the discolouration and nodules of infection can clearly be seen. All other organs in situ.

3 - Lungs and lobes of liver completely removed. All other organs in situ.

4 - Gizzard moved aside and intestinal membrane removed to reveal intestines in situ.

5 - Intestines removed to reveal multi-lobed kidneys and reproductive system.

6 - Intestines removed from body cavity and laid out on white A4 sized paper.

To Flock Diary 2001 - January, February and March 2001 / April and May 2001

To Flock Diary 2000 - January 2000 / February, March, April 2000 / May 2000 / June 2000 / Stroud Show 1st July 2000 / July 2000 / August 2000 / Painswick Show 13th August 2000 / September 2000 / October, November & December 2000

To Flock Diary 1999 - January 1999 / February 1999 / March , April 1999 / May , June 1999 / Stroud Show 1999 / July 1999 / August 1999 / September 1999 / October 1999 / November 1999 / December 1999

To Flock Diary 1997 & 1998 - August to December 1997 / January, February and March 1998 / April 1998 / May 1998 / June 1998 / July 1998 / August 1998 / September 1998 / October 1998 - Part One / October 1998 - Part Two / November 1998 - Part One / November 1998 - Part Two / December 1998