Golden Comet Lethargic with Vent Pulsating

The Dim Side

Songster
Mar 16, 2021
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My 3.5-year-old Golden Comet has been a little lethargic the last day or so and doesn't seem to really want to eat anything, and her comb is looking purple on and off. I noticed today that her vent is pulsating, but I don't think I feel an egg unless it's farther inward, and I just can't tell for sure the difference between what might be other body parts I'm feeling.

I brought her inside to let her rest separately from the others, and she sat on my lap while I tried massaging a little (not sure if I did that right or not either). Then I gave her an Epsom salt bath and then toweled her off and had her in my lap again for an hour. I slowly syringed some KY Jelly into her vent to see if that might help if there is an egg in there. I tried giving her another bath after, but she didn't want to stay in it for very long. Her vent is still pulsating.

I also want to note that she had a very poopy backside, which isn't very usual for her, at least I don't think. I tried pulling off the poop while the feathers soaked in the tub. I was wondering if maybe she could have been blocked by that and getting problems. She did poop a little before the first bath though, so she must not have been completely blocked up if so.

I think she has a liiiittle bit of wheezing breathing, but it's hard for me to tell for sure if it's actually wheezing or if maybe that's just her normal breathing because I don't normally listen that closely to her. But I do think it's a bit of stuffy breathing. If it could be respiratory, would Tylan/tylosin powder potentially help? If so, what dosage could I give her orally in a syringe?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
 
little lethargic the last day or so and doesn't seem to really want to eat anything, and her comb is looking purple on and off. I noticed today that her vent is pulsating, but I don't think I feel an egg

I slowly syringed some KY Jelly into her vent to see if that might help if there is an egg in there. I tried giving her another bath after, but she didn't want to stay in it for very long. Her vent is still pulsating.

I think she has a liiiittle bit of wheezing breathing, but it's hard for me to tell for sure if it's actually wheezing or if maybe that's just her normal breathing because I don't normally listen that closely to her. But I do think it's a bit of stuffy breathing. If it could be respiratory, would Tylan/tylosin powder potentially help? If so, what dosage could I give her orally in a syringe?
I would start her on extra Calcium asap. Give 1 tablet Calcium Citrate+D3 once daily for a week. Just pull down on her wattles, pop the tablet into the beak and let her swallow.
The Extra Calcium is essential if you think she may be having a hard time expelling an egg and when a hen is in crisis.

Photos of her poop?

I wouldn't syringe the lubricant into the vent, you risk pushing bacteria into the oviduct and reproductive system. The reproductive system in a hen is not a closed system. If you feel the vent needs the lubricant, just apply a small amount of around the vent.

Wheezing can be due to struggling with an egg, she may have some fluid. Some hens that reproductive disorders or crop problems can make a wheezing sound.

If she's lethargic, soaking may not be the best option, it can be stressful for them and can often send them over the edge. You can however place her in a steamed up bathroom or provide her with a heating pad on low (covered with a towel).

Work on hydration, getting the calcium into her and see if she will eat a bit of food.

If you feel she needs medication. Tylosin powder is 1tsp per gallon of drinking water given for 5 days.
Tylan50 injectable was taken off the shelves at least a year ago, but if you have that on hand, the dose is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days.




My 3.5-year-old Golden Comet has been a little lethargic the last day or so and doesn't seem to really want to eat anything, and her comb is looking purple on and off. I noticed today that her vent is pulsating, but I don't think I feel an egg unless it's farther inward, and I just can't tell for sure the difference between what might be other body parts I'm feeling.

I brought her inside to let her rest separately from the others, and she sat on my lap while I tried massaging a little (not sure if I did that right or not either). Then I gave her an Epsom salt bath and then toweled her off and had her in my lap again for an hour. I slowly syringed some KY Jelly into her vent to see if that might help if there is an egg in there. I tried giving her another bath after, but she didn't want to stay in it for very long. Her vent is still pulsating.

I also want to note that she had a very poopy backside, which isn't very usual for her, at least I don't think. I tried pulling off the poop while the feathers soaked in the tub. I was wondering if maybe she could have been blocked by that and getting problems. She did poop a little before the first bath though, so she must not have been completely blocked up if so.

I think she has a liiiittle bit of wheezing breathing, but it's hard for me to tell for sure if it's actually wheezing or if maybe that's just her normal breathing because I don't normally listen that closely to her. But I do think it's a bit of stuffy breathing. If it could be respiratory, would Tylan/tylosin powder potentially help? If so, what dosage could I give her orally in a syringe?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
 
I would start her on extra Calcium asap. Give 1 tablet Calcium Citrate+D3 once daily for a week. Just pull down on her wattles, pop the tablet into the beak and let her swallow.
The Extra Calcium is essential if you think she may be having a hard time expelling an egg and when a hen is in crisis.

Photos of her poop?

I wouldn't syringe the lubricant into the vent, you risk pushing bacteria into the oviduct and reproductive system. The reproductive system in a hen is not a closed system. If you feel the vent needs the lubricant, just apply a small amount of around the vent.

Wheezing can be due to struggling with an egg, she may have some fluid. Some hens that reproductive disorders or crop problems can make a wheezing sound.

If she's lethargic, soaking may not be the best option, it can be stressful for them and can often send them over the edge. You can however place her in a steamed up bathroom or provide her with a heating pad on low (covered with a towel).

Work on hydration, getting the calcium into her and see if she will eat a bit of food.

If you feel she needs medication. Tylosin powder is 1tsp per gallon of drinking water given for 5 days.
Tylan50 injectable was taken off the shelves at least a year ago, but if you have that on hand, the dose is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days.
I haven't had the chance to get to the store yet because of work. But I'll try and pick some calcium citrate up soon. I have calcium gluconate in the fridge, which a vet said to use before for a duck. But I noticed it expired in June, so I don't know if it goes bad or not.

Re the lubricant, another vet had put the KY Jelly inside my duck and all around the egg to help guide it out. So that's why I was trying to do it similarly, lol, but I'll just put it on the vent now. It's just that I don't think it'll help there since the egg (if any) seems to be further in more.

I did find a pet heating pad, so I put it under her towel in the dog crate she's in right now on the lowest setting (80 degrees).

She has been eating a little bit, too, but still in a daze and the vent pulsating. Here's a pic of her poop from last night, too.

20241028_100848.jpg
 
Does anyone know what the heck this is? @casportpony (I've seen you comment on other egg bindings before, so I was wondering if you might know!)

I found it in her crate, but I've never seen anything like it before. It was super gross.

It was like a really rubbery egg yolk and had layers to it like an onion. It looks like the shape I thought I was feeling inside her that didn't feel like an egg in size, hardness, or shape. So I'm hoping this is what was making her feel sick and that she'll start feeling better now? *fingers crossed*

It actually looks more yellow in the photos with the flash. But it was pretty tan in real life like in that first pic!

20241028_190103.jpg

20241028_190301.jpg

20241028_190330.jpg
20241028_190335.jpg
 
Does anyone know what the heck this is? @casportpony (I've seen you comment on other egg bindings before, so I was wondering if you might know!)

I found it in her crate, but I've never seen anything like it before. It was super gross.

It was like a really rubbery egg yolk and had layers to it like an onion. It looks like the shape I thought I was feeling inside her that didn't feel like an egg in size, hardness, or shape. So I'm hoping this is what was making her feel sick and that she'll start feeling better now? *fingers crossed*

It actually looks more yellow in the photos with the flash. But it was pretty tan in real life like in that first pic!

View attachment 3975527
View attachment 3975524
View attachment 3975525View attachment 3975526
That's a Lash Egg (Salpingitis). It's inflammation of the oviduct.

Giving the Calcium may help her expel out more material.

If you have an antibiotic on hand, it would be good to treat her to help control infection. Sometimes medication makes them feel better for a good while and they can live months to years, sometimes the condition is advanced and the hen won't pull through.

Amoxicillin is commonly given to hens with Salpingitis. Baytril is another antibiotic people use.

You can order those online..
https://jedds.com/products/amoxicillin-capsules?_pos=1&_sid=ca76eace5&_ss=r
https://jedds.com/products/enrofloxacin-10?_pos=1&_sid=863ed360c&_ss=r

Here's some reading about Salpingitis and the causes.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/causes-of-lash-eggs-salpingitis-by/

https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/
 
That's a Lash Egg (Salpingitis). It's inflammation of the oviduct.

Giving the Calcium may help her expel out more material.

If you have an antibiotic on hand, it would be good to treat her to help control infection. Sometimes medication makes them feel better for a good while and they can live months to years, sometimes the condition is advanced and the hen won't pull through.

Amoxicillin is commonly given to hens with Salpingitis. Baytril is another antibiotic people use.

You can order those online..
https://jedds.com/products/amoxicillin-capsules?_pos=1&_sid=ca76eace5&_ss=r
https://jedds.com/products/enrofloxacin-10?_pos=1&_sid=863ed360c&_ss=r

Here's some reading about Salpingitis and the causes.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/causes-of-lash-eggs-salpingitis-by/

https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/
Thank you! That's definitely a lash egg then. I had never heard of it until now, so it's totally new for us. It looks like if I order from that website, it won't be here for a week. Do you think she could hold out until then? Or is it more urgent to get those meds now? I won't be able to get her to a local vet for at least a couple more days either. I do have doxycycline pills on hand though. I saw on another post someone got prescribed it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ltry-vet-please-help-xx.1430259/post-28047977

Would I be able to give that to her? And if so, how much should she have? They're 100mg pills cut in half. At least I think so (unless they're 100mg as half pills, but I think it's the former.)
 
Thank you! That's definitely a lash egg then. I had never heard of it until now, so it's totally new for us. It looks like if I order from that website, it won't be here for a week. Do you think she could hold out until then? Or is it more urgent to get those meds now? I won't be able to get her to a local vet for at least a couple more days either. I do have doxycycline pills on hand though. I saw on another post someone got prescribed it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ltry-vet-please-help-xx.1430259/post-28047977

Would I be able to give that to her? And if so, how much should she have? They're 100mg pills cut in half. At least I think so (unless they're 100mg as half pills, but I think it's the former.)
The Doxy may help.
I found dosing in the link below.
https://poultrydvm.com/drugs/doxycycline
 
That's a Lash Egg (Salpingitis). It's inflammation of the oviduct.

Giving the Calcium may help her expel out more material.

If you have an antibiotic on hand, it would be good to treat her to help control infection. Sometimes medication makes them feel better for a good while and they can live months to years, sometimes the condition is advanced and the hen won't pull through.

Amoxicillin is commonly given to hens with Salpingitis. Baytril is another antibiotic people use.

You can order those online..
https://jedds.com/products/amoxicillin-capsules?_pos=1&_sid=ca76eace5&_ss=r
https://jedds.com/products/enrofloxacin-10?_pos=1&_sid=863ed360c&_ss=r

Here's some reading about Salpingitis and the causes.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/causes-of-lash-eggs-salpingitis-by/

https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/
I had a virtual vet appointment yesterday, and she said it would be okay to try it for several days.

But at least for future reference, or if the doxycycline doesn't work, do you know what the oral dosages for amoxicillin and enrofloxacin are? I'm just reading adding it to their drinking water from those links you sent (I had also purchased them, but they weren't going to get here for a week). But whenever they're sick, they don't drink much water. So I'd rather give it directly orally like I have with tylosin.
 

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