Fly strike treatments.

[PD-Riverman]

Oh...Thank you for this link. The first section of the article, egg peritonitis describes her symptoms to a tee. Oh dear. I will do some more research into draining. It appears this is what she has. She was one of my best layers...

If its a Hard feeling abdomen draining will probably not work---Just For Info. If it feels more like a water balloon---then it should.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If its a Hard feeling abdomen draining will probably not work---Just For Info. If it feels more like a water balloon---then it should.

@PD-Riverman is correct. You will need to do some reading and examine her closely to determine if the abdomen has fluid that can be drained.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ascites-in-desperate-need-of-some-help-and-guidance.853726/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/egg-yolk-peritonitis.1154532/#post-18103856

 

[Glennlarch]

What is the best way to drain the abdomen?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

SEE POST19 and 20 by TWOCROWS and SPECKLED HEN
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...nd-now-in-respiratory-distress.1119656/page-2

 

[Glennlarch]

Thank you again. As per this thread, draining the abdomen via 18 Guage needle appears to be the only solution with a slim chance of recovery.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you have a trusted vet or large animal vet who would know about chickens, they might help or give you some good antibiotics for her. Antibiotics may or may not help the EYP or internal laying, but she could be ill with something else temporarily. I have ahen with a huge sack under her vent, and have been waiting for 2 years for the poor thing to let me know when she is suffering. Instead she gets around up and down the hill, eats, and hangs out with the other flock members, and can actually get up to a 3 foot roost at night. So get her to eat and drink, and think about treating symptoms. You may or may not get fluid out if you try draining her. I usually do not recommend antibiotics for chickens, but I would think about baytril or something the vet offers. With Baytril though, you cannot eat her eggs if she starts laying again.

 

[casportpony]

Thank you again. As per this thread, draining the abdomen via 18 Guage needle appears to be the only solution with a slim chance of recovery.

Draining is not a cure, and it's not without risk. Some you can drain once and they're fine for several months, others might need draining once every few days, some might die will being drained.

Before draining you must be 100% sure that it's fluid and not a mass! If it's drainable fluid her abdominal cavity will be full like a water balloon.
This hen died while trying to drain her (more necropsy pictures here Internal Laying, Ascites and EYP - *Very* Graphic Necropsy Pictures):

This one lived a few weeks after draining twice (more pictures here DO YOU HAVE A HEN WHOSE ABDOMEN FEELS LIKE A FULL WATER BALLOON? READ THIS!!!)

If you do decide to drain, drain as much fluid as possible. I usually get ~16 ounces (500 ml).

 

[Glennlarch]

Thank you all for your information. Unfortunately when i returned from work to check my patient, she was gone. I felt it necessary to see what the cause was. Once inside the first layer was much like hard cheese. The remaining substance was more like watery ricotta (sorry for the cheese reference, but describes it well) I did take photos as well. I will only post them if there is a request to do so. I have checked the rest of the flock and all seem in good health.

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry for your loss. The pictures of your necropsy are very welcome here. We have seen all kinds, and they may help to identify what was wrong. Some of the other posters here have much necropsy experience.

 

[casportpony]

So sorry for your loss. Ditto on the pictures, I'm sure they will be helpful.