Egg Bound Rhode Island Red

[fairie]

Hi, I need some help here. I had a hen die 2 weeks ago from being egg bound. And now this one has had a poopy bum for the last 3 days. So today I had a better look. I think she is about 2 years old. Has laid regularly until she just molted. So I dont know how long ago she laid ( have 4 birds and get 2 eggs a day). They eat an organic layer mix from our chicken farmer (I dont get a bag or a box so I dont know what is in it) and get extra grit&sea shells, plus a mineral supplement that I added after the last one died from being egg bound.

I brought her in washed her (hairdryed her), put on the ol'glove and coconut oil. Then I checked in her vent. I could not feel anything but she would not let my finger go in very far so I added more oil. Then she pushed it out, and pooed. She is having watery yellow&white (not yolk) poop. It feels like her lower section is swollen but I am not 100% sure what is what from the outside. Inside I could not feel an egg.

She has been walking bowlegged, she is not staying with the group and spent the last 2 says alone or hiding in the bush. She is getting worse so I decided to investigate.

The problem is since I got these 5 hens in Spring they have all been sick, worms, parasites and they never get better (one is already dead from a mystery disease). They have spent the last few months eating everything in sight and crapping my garden full. I have had hens for the last 3 years, mixed silkies, rhode island, easter eggers. But these girls poop like there is no tomorrow and are never full.

I plan on taking them to the slaughter on Saturday, already made the apointment.

But now she is sick, I dont want her to suffer, but I also dont want her to die and then I have 1 soup chicken less.

I am open to suggestions.
The photo of the 2 hens are some of the others I bought at the same time, from the same flock. Their feathers look rough and they never looked healthy like my other hens. The sad hen is obviously the sick one,and the bum photos, are after I washed her. He vent is red but not protruding, there area around the vent is red and I cleaned it and put more coconut oil on it. She is just standing weird in this photo. But her legs are a bit splayed since she has not been well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi, I need some help here. I had a hen die 2 weeks ago from being egg bound. And now this one has had a poopy bum for the last 3 days. So today I had a better look. I think she is about 2 years old. Has laid regularly until she just molted. So I dont know how long ago she laid ( have 4 birds and get 2 eggs a day). They eat an organic layer mix from our chicken farmer (I dont get a bag or a box so I dont know what is in it) and get extra grit&sea shells, plus a mineral supplement that I added after the last one died from being egg bound.

I brought her in washed her (hairdryed her), put on the ol'glove and coconut oil. Then I checked in her vent. I could not feel anything but she would not let my finger go in very far so I added more oil. Then she pushed it out, and pooed. She is having watery yellow&white (not yolk) poop. It feels like her lower section is swollen but I am not 100% sure what is what from the outside. Inside I could not feel an egg.

She has been walking bowlegged, she is not staying with the group and spent the last 2 says alone or hiding in the bush. She is getting worse so I decided to investigate.

The problem is since I got these 5 hens in Spring they have all been sick, worms, parasites and they never get better (one is already dead from a mystery disease). They have spent the last few months eating everything in sight and crapping my garden full. I have had hens for the last 3 years, mixed silkies, rhode island, easter eggers. But these girls poop like there is no tomorrow and are never full.

I plan on taking them to the slaughter on Saturday, already made the apointment.

But now she is sick, I dont want her to suffer, but I also dont want her to die and then I have 1 soup chicken less.

I am open to suggestions.
The photo of the 2 hens are some of the others I bought at the same time, from the same flock. Their feathers look rough and they never looked healthy like my other hens. The sad hen is obviously the sick one,and the bum photos, are after I washed her. He vent is red but not protruding, there area around the vent is red and I cleaned it and put more coconut oil on it. She is just standing weird in this photo. But her legs are a bit splayed since she has not been well.

It's possible that she may have an internal laying/reproductive disorder like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, cancer or tumors.
Sometimes the best you can do is give supportive care, offer some extra calcium, vitamins and give her a soaking in a warm epsom salts bath.


Peritonitis and internal egg laying issues:
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/tag/laying-issues/
http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/6-causes-of-chicken-swollen-abdomen.aspx

 

[fairie]

Hi Thanks for the suggestions. I had a look at the links. She is still in the same shape as yesterday. I got some calcium tablets that I tried to make her eat, that was a joke. I let her out for a bit and she ran around and ate and drank. I put some hemeroid cream on and in her vent. Hope that helps.

 

[fairie]

So not much improvement. I put he cat carrier out side with her in it so she can be warm. She is not really interested in the food with the calcium tablets. I am gonna feed her an egg, then I know she is eating and has some liquid. I think she is unhappy being locked up. Seemed fine yesterday when I let her out and she ran aroudn for an hour eating and drinking.

Her bum is still messy and there is just pooh drippin gout of it. NO EGG.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So not much improvement. I put he cat carrier out side with her in it so she can be warm. She is not really interested in the food with the calcium tablets. I am gonna feed her an egg, then I know she is eating and has some liquid. I think she is unhappy being locked up. Seemed fine yesterday when I let her out and she ran aroudn for an hour eating and drinking.

Her bum is still messy and there is just pooh drippin gout of it. NO EGG.

If it is an internal laying/repro disorder, then she may not lay an egg. Her lower abdomen is swollen, this could be an indication that egg/egg-matter has dropped into the abdominal cavity, this can cause infection. Antibiotic treatment (therapy) is usually not that effective and at best will improvement would be slight (for a few weeks, to a couple of months). The pressure from the swollen abdomen most likely is causing the poo to drip out.

If she will eat the egg, that would be good.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The bird shown is a red sex link or production red layer, not a Rhode Island Red.

I say this because it is important. Strains of hybridized top laying strains of brown egg layers are pushed to the limit in being bred and developed as superb and super high egg laying. Unfortunately, there is a price to be paid in the internal ova blowouts and infections are far too common among these birds.

I'm so very sorry. In my lengthy experience, this occurred far too often and was highly influential in pointing me toward more heritage oriented, standard bred poultry that laid a bit less, grew in maturity a bit slower but have seemed to enjoy greater health and a longer life.

Recovery is not typical for a layer in this condition. I'm very sorry.

 

[fairie]

Thanks for the helpful words. We have had "wild" mixed up chickens the whole time and now since i Have bought these girls they have just been sick. This is why I wanted to keep our fun and different birds and not these "super layers" but I let my husband convince me. We were all happy with 5 eggs a day from 5 hens. But now I only have sick hens and a garden FULL (every step is full) of Chicken poo.

We just had 9 chicks hatch and I am happy to go back to our mixed up silky, easter egger, Rhode Island Red ??? chickens

. They are strong and robust and live and lay forever. Plus they are nice and lay wonderful little blue, pink eggs.

The others are all scheduled for the slaughter on Saturday.