Eggbound hen - am I crazy to pay a vet $150?

[BWchicken]

Hi ace, I'm so sorry I haven't replied until now. I've been so occupied dealing with Baby. Still not laying. She's also had horrible gaping and head shaking. We've treated her for everything from gapeworm to ear mites. She's on antibiotics from the vet now, he still can't find a reason for her problems and he doesn't know what else to do. I have several threads on here about her.

I hope you don't think I've forgotten about you and Avril! I actually think of her quite often and wonder how she is. Please tell me she's doing well. I'm anxious to find out about her, I hope you can update soon!

 

[PoultryPedia]

BWchicken--Do you think part of the problem for Baby could be summer heat? I think hens' laying can be cut down by that. Is Baby heavily feathered?

 

[BWchicken]

Thanks SpeckledHills. Baby actually stopped laying months ago before it got hot. In her case, I think the not laying is caused by the stress of whatever else is wrong with her (causing the gaping, head shaking, ect). She stopped laying about the same time those symptoms started. But no one can find out what is causing it. She's been treated for everything possible. I'll update my latest thread on her and please reply if you have any ideas! Here's the thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=370949

Ace, I hope you're still checking this thread, I'd love to hear how Avril is doing, and hoping for good news!

 

[ace6175]

Hi BW,
I've just been so busy harvesting this year (here in tropical rainy IL, EVERYTHING is growing!) that I don't have much time to be on the computer lately.
Just read your post about Baby! I can't believe all you have gone through, and it's still not resolved! This must be so stressful for you! I hope you are able to find something that will help her.
I did want to add about allergic chickens - my neighbor had a chicken named Red, and she sneezed all the time! I would hear her every day while I was out working in my yard. She was fine, though. So there is no doubt in my mind that chickens can have allergies.
Amazingly, Avril seems to be doing just fine! Still lays soft shelled eggs every other day or so. My mother has parrots and she has the vet give one of them a shot of Luprin to keep her from laying eggs, so I'm thinking of asking the vet to do that for Avril. Other than the soft shelled eggs, she is fine!
I bought 2 SLW that are now about 5 months old, Salt & Pepper. Now little Salty follows me around all the time and Avril is very jealous! But at least she has some friends now.
BW, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the antibiotics and /or worming medications help Baby. I hope she is able to live a fairly normal life.

 

[chkn]

Well, I paid 170 for a perotinitis case and all it did was make her go down faster. With this, you have a pretty good chance.

 

[ace6175]

What is a perotinitis case?

 

[BWchicken]

So good to hear from you, ace! I haven't given Baby the Albon antibiotic yet because she hasn't been gaping for several days now. But I know it will start back up again at anytime, it always does. But for now I'm glad to see her have a break from it.

I couldn't be happier to hear about Avril! So I'm assuming the stuck egg is still in her? That's unbelievable, but apparently her body has adjusted somehow so she can live a normal life. I guess the egg has become walled off or something. Amazing. She certainly is a special girl! I've never heard of that shot to stop her laying, but as long as it's safe it sounds like something to look into.

Please keep me updated when you have time, Avril is just a real trooper and I enjoy hearing about her. I know how busy things can be this time of year, although our garden burned up with this heatwave we've been having. Practically cooked everything right on the vine. It's also been tough keeping the chickens alive with heat indexes well over 115, but they're making it and I'm doing everything I can to help them get through it. I'm praying for an early fall!

 

[ace6175]

BW, I've been watching the weather reports, I don't know how anything is surviving that heat in the southwest! Hope your chickens continue to do alright in that heat! We aren't that hot here (90's), but it has been very humid, and lots of rain. Some areas have had flooding, and the mosquitoes will just about carry you off!
Glad to hear that Baby is alright for now. It must be really hard to be worried about her for so long. Is she still acting fairly normal? Does she have a good quality of life?
I am really surprised that Avril is ok. The egg must be part of her body now (I can still feel it). She is just as spunky as ever (except when she needs to lay an egg).
I actually have heard of Luprin, they give it to humans to stop ovulation. So if they give it to parrots to stop egg laying, then it should work on chickens!
BW, I can't thank you enough for your concern about Avril. She is very special to me. Anyone who says that chickens don't have personalities never spent much time with them.
Wishing Baby and all your chicks good health.

 

[chkn]

Quote:
Oops, think it's spelled peritonitis; it's an internal layer that's become infected.

 

[chickenlady08]

In May I took my Delaware chicken to the vet for what I could only think was internal laying. Bingo! whe she took the xray it showed an egg inside and I was going to have her perform the surgery because she is my pet and then I started second guessing myself after I gave the go ahead. Well as the day went on I was afraid she wouldn't make it through surgery but she was still very fiesty and full of life the vet seemed to think that it was going to be just fine. Well she was and I was happy I didn't put her down or let her come home and let her die without trying to do something. It costs me $189. She only charged for the xray, sutures and anesthsia (sp). the xray was $110. man!!! but I do not regret it. Here is a picture of the 2 lb mass of egg yoke she took out of my hen. You can see 2 eggs inside of that mess. One was totaly formed with the shell the other doesn't have a shell.

Oh and now she has started to lay internally again. I knew she should have performed a hysterectomy on her.