egg yolk peritonitis? My buff Orpington is sick

[Madison Lorenzen]

My buff Orpington (3 years old) is acting different but I can't figure out what's wrong with her. She's always been a happy, social, hungry bird. Sunday morning we noticed she wasn't moving much and if she did, it was really slowly. We quarantined her and she's in our bathroom in our house. Her tail is pointed downward, she's not moving much, won't eat or drink anything. Her crop is empty. I've ruled out egg binding. She appears to be going trough a molt. What could it be. What signs do I need to look out for for egg yolk peritonitis? I posted pictures of her poo, there's some weird black pieces that are solid, and the other pieces are green and white and wetter but it's not an eggy texture at all. I also posted a picture of her stance with her tail pointed downward and the discoloring of her feathers which I think is a molt. Also a picture of her vent, which looks fine to me. Please let me know! Any help or advice is appreciated. Thank you

 

[Jessica Thompson]

That can be intestinal issues

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

That can be intestinal issues

What kind of intestinal issue? How can I help her get better?

 

[Eggcessive]

It can be hard to diagnose a sick chicken. EYP may indeed be a problem, especially if she has not been laying eggs regularly, or has had any difficulties with shell-less eggs or thin-shelled eggs. Getting a fecal float done by a vet for worms and coccidiosis would be prudent to rule out a couple of possibilities. I have had a couple of hens who had gizzard impactions, and a couple with crop impactions discovered late. Check crops for emptying by early morning. Check for mites or mite droppings on skin. Get her eating by offering bits of egg, tuna, liver, wet chicken feed, try vitamins in her water or food. Probiotics twice a week may help. We all have a sick hen if we keep chickens for vety long. Hopefully, she will get well, but keep us posted.

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

I can't take her to the vet right now, because I have no money. I always take them if I'm able, but I can't right now. I'm having to force feed her water and she won't eat anything. I'm gonna try some other options like egg and maybe yogurt tomorrow. I did notice she pooped again and it had an eggy texture. She hasn't laid in at least 3 days. She obviously not feeling well but I can't figure out what it is. I'm leaning towards EYP, as in another thread someone told me to feel her abdomen and asked if it felt like a water balloon, and it kind of does. Is EYP deadly? What are the symptoms? How is it treated? Do the pictures of her poo look normal?

 

[micstrachan]

I did not realize on the other thread that her poop is black, which could be indicative of blood due to digestive issue.
If her abdomen feeks like a water balloon, which is ascites, that could be from a number of different things, one of which is EYP. Could be infection. Could be organ failure. Could be cancer. Not trying to freak you out, but just pointing out that it’s hard to tell the cause at this point. Can you remind us of her laying history and how she’s laying lately?
Also, as a desperate measure, if you can get a sterile needle from a feed store, you could drain the fluid yourself, at least passively. Unfortunately, that opens up the possibility of introducing infection, so you have to be as aseptic as possible (not touching the sterile needle to anything, prepping the skin).
Wondering if it’s worth administering antibiotics to see if she responds before trying to drain her yourself, as it’s risky.
You do need to get her to drink something asap. For some readon, when my girl was sick, she liked to drink from a water bottle lid if I held it up to her beak. You can also put little droplets onto the side of her beak so they drip into her mouth and she can swallow them on her own. I personally am super nervous about giving water via syringe for fear of aspirating her. Keep us posted, please.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you feel inside her vent with one finger an inch or two, to feel for an egg? If her droppings look like cooked egg at times, it can be a sign of EYP. Other signs are poor appetite, runny poops, sometimes yellow like egg, loss of weight in the keel or breast bone area, sometimes fullness in the lower belly, a preference to lie down or sit, they can walk like a duck, and sometimes they will develop ascites or fluid in the belly. These symptoms can vary. Internal laying or EYP are gatal eventually. Most people try to make them comfortable, and put them down if they seem to be suffering. I have had several live a couple of years with internal laying. Some use antibiotics, to possibly extend life, but they will not cure it.

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

I'll feel inside her vent for an egg tomorrow. When my barred rock was egg bound I could feel it by squishing around the area. Her poop looked like raw egg white, but more white than clear, she does have very poor appetite, she has been laying down and not walking much. what kind of antibiotics can I get her? And I don't know if I'd be able to drain it myself. I could watch videos and see if I'm comfortable with it. I don't even know for sure what it is yet. I just want her to get better. I've lost 2, and it's so hard

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

Something I noticed with my other sick chickens is they closed there eyes a lot. I haven't noticed that with her at all

 

[micstrachan]

When was the last time she laid an egg?