desperate!

[mrskgb]

Hello everyone,
I have a barred rock named Lovie that I believe has egg yolk peritonitis (very swollen abdomen, can't walk or stand for any period of time, seems tired/lethargic and labored breathing). She is almost four years old and such a sweet chicken, as you can tell by her name. I noticed her acting funny sometime last week (she was nesting with a handicapped rooster I have at night and not getting up on the roost). She is the leader of the hens and my kids and I are so sad! I just got some antibiotics from tractor supply and started to give them to her in a dropper (Oxytetracycline HCI). She still is motivated to eat, perks right up when she hears a bag, but isn't drinking on her own. Her belly is so swollen her legs are straddle like....is there anything else I can do to keep her comfortable? Her poop is normal, nothing yellow or runny....how long will she be like this before she passes? any advice is greatly appreciated! thanks! Jean

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Could you post a picture of her poop? Have you tried feeling inside her vent a little ways for her being egg bound? And I understand if this isn't an option, but is there any way you can get her to a vet?

What antibiotic do you have?

 

[mrskgb]

the antibiotic is called Oxytetracycline HCI, its a soluble powder.....I can try to get a pic, I don't know if there are any vets around me that see chickens....a friend of mine who has a farm told me from what I described, she isn't going to make it I've never checked a vent before, tired to you tube it, but no luck and I'm scared to hurt her or stress her out....

 

[mrskgb]

this is a fresh dropping from her.....

 

[mrskgb]

this is Lovie right now

 

[BonRae67]

Poor baby. Hope she is ok.

 

[mrskgb]

thank you BonRae67

 

[BayBay Peepers]

There is a chance she may not make it BUT there is chance she could make it. If you can call around for a vet I would. If you can't I do understand. I had a hen recently go through a bout of peritonitis. I used Bactrim (from a vet) that didn't work. I had ordered some Baytril as I was advised it would work better though it is technically banned in poultry. I ordered it online. I'll try to find the links again.

 

[Acornewell]

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. My bird just passed away last night with these same symptoms. I was going to try to drain her abdomen, but she died even before I could.

 

[Acornewell]

I would rush her to a vet to see if there is something they could do. The abdomen being full and hard is probably pushing on the lungs creating her labored breathing.