Egg bound/peritonitis-please reply ASAP

[jools2014]

Hi everyone,

I have a sick chicken-she has a dirty vent and she didn't come out with the rest of the birds today when I let them all out of their pen and into the garden. Her comb is also droopy. Now I have seen these signs before-I have lost at least 3 hens to egg peritonitis-I thought it was them being egg bound but now i remember it was actually egg peritonitis.

This chicken is over 3 years old and has in the last couple of weeks been laying some strange eggs-they have all had a weird topping on-so I was kind of expecting this as I thought this weird bit of shell on the top could break off inside her. Anyway, my problem is-I was going to rush her to the vet but then I read you can soak them in a bath which might loosen the egg (but I think maybe this is just if they are egg bound not the peritonitis?) It's a difficult decision because I'm pretty sure the vet will just put her to sleep (he did that with my others) and if there is a way I can get her better by doing this soak then she might be ok. Obviously her comfort is my priority so the problem being that after I do the warm soak it might take a while to see if she is improving or not-thus delaying the vet treatment. Does anyone have any advice on what the best course of action might be?

I will never have hybrid hens again I am losing them all to egg peritonitis! The vet has said before he has seen so many of these cases and the only thing to do is have them spayed or just not get hybrids that lay so many eggs and are prone to this. It's so depressing! On the positive side-I gave her some mealworms and she loved them so she is still eating her favourite treats at least. She last laid an egg only a couple of days ago so she can't be too far gone yet I hope. Thanks everyone.

 

[Porcini1951]

Hi there We have some ex-battery hens and they are very prone to EYP as their egg laying mechanisms are basically worn out. In my experience you need to get her to a vet asap if you are to save her. By the time they appear ill with it it is usually too late. I think they hide their illness to avoid the others pecking them to death. Speedy treatment if of the essence.
Good luck. I hate losing any of the hens as they are more like pets.

 

[jools2014]

Hi, thank you Porcini. We took her to the vet and he doesn't think it is EYP with this one. Didn't really know what it was but that she seemed ok for the most part. I remembered that I had seen one of our ducks run into her the other day so we thought that might've been the cause. He has given us some medication to give her and see what she is like in a few days. thank you for the reply.