Help please-sick hen

[KK'schicks]

Help please!!! I have an almost 2 year old RIR. She is lethargic, feather puffed out, not eating. I thought I felt a stuck egg yesterday and that she was egg bound. I soaked her twice and gave calcium. Still no egg. I'm not sure if I'm even feeling an egg, maybe I was wrong. Now I noticed she's twitching her head some too and opens her mouth wide every so often. She looks like her crop is swollen too...please help...I feel like she's very sick!!!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

2 year old RIR. She is lethargic, feather puffed out, not eating. I thought I felt a stuck egg yesterday and that she was egg bound. I soaked her twice and gave calcium. Still no egg. I'm not sure if I'm even feeling an egg, maybe I was wrong. Now I noticed she's twitching her head some too and opens her mouth wide every so often. She looks like her crop is swollen too

Check her crop first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks, it should be empty.
You think you felt an egg? Was it behind tissue or in the abdomen? When did she last lay an egg?

Next time you examine her look for lice/mites, it would be worth looking inside the beak just to make sure there's no lesions or canker, take a whiff of her breath as well to see it it's yeasty or sour, feel that abdomen between her legs below the vent for any bloat or fluid.
Photos of her poop may also be helpful.
If the crop is still full in the morning, read the following article, let us know which one you think it may be - we can help you from there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[KK'schicks]

Hi. Her crop isn't full this am.she hasn't been eating. I know she hasn't laid an egg since Wednesday at least. I'm pretty sure I feel an egg, and it's very enlarged and hard under her vent. She's walking around a little today outside. But very slowly. Checked her mouth, no smell or lessons. Also no lice or mites. Her pooped is black and watery.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi. Her crop isn't full this am.she hasn't been eating. I know she hasn't laid an egg since Wednesday at least. I'm pretty sure I feel an egg, and it's very enlarged and hard under her vent. She's walking around a little today outside. But very slowly. Checked her mouth, no smell or lessons. Also no lice or mites. Her pooped is black and watery.

So if you felt inside the vent the "egg" would be "downward" behind tissue? (below the vent toward the abdomen)
If it's enlarged under the vent, the I would lean toward her having a reproductive disorder - Internal Laying, Salpingitis, Egg Yolk Peritonitis, cancer, tumors are all common in laying hens. Do you have photos of the poop?

ref

 

[KK'schicks]

Thank you for your help. I took her to the vet and after an x-ray, they said it is egg yolk perintonitits...however they didnt prescribe antibiotics!!!! Can you tell me if I should use penicillin, tylon, or liquamycin??? Going to TSC now...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for your help. I took her to the vet and after an x-ray, they said it is egg yolk perintonitits...however they didnt prescribe antibiotics!!!! Can you tell me if I should use penicillin, tylon, or liquamycin??? Going to TSC now...

I'm sorry the news it not good.
I am glad you were able to go to the vet and get a clearer idea of what is going on with your sweet girl.
Antibiotics might help with EYP, you can try. Personally I would use Baytril or Amoxicillin - you won't find either at TSC. You would need to order those.
If ordering is not possible, then among the 3 choices you posted, I would use the Tylan50.
That's my personal opinion - someone else may have a better suggestion.

Did you happen to get a copy of the xray and do you mind sharing it so we can learn?

For a hen that is having reproductive problems, I would also give her vitamins once a week. Again, personal preference is Poultry Cell. I direct dose at 1cc per 3lbs of weight.
Check her crop regularly to make sure it's empty in the mornings. When a hen has a reproductive disorder, that can cause internal swelling, which in turn can restrict the digestive process - this slows crop function. It all goes together. I monitor the crop closely with any of my gals that have repro problems - if I note anything, I begin a mild treatment for slow crop to help keep things moving. You don't want to deal with sour crop. I usually do fine with giving a little coconut oil (freeze it, break into chunks, they love coconut oil), massage the crop gently a few times a day. I don't limit food unless I have to. Most of the time they will drink very well on their own. I do offer wet feed as well.

I hope you can pet your girl along for a while with supportive care. Keep me posted.

https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10
https://www.jefferspet.com/products/amoxicillin-250mg-jar100-fish-mox

 

[KK'schicks]

I can't thank you enough for helping me. The vet finally called in antibiotics. She is doing great now.. eating, drinking, and poop is not watery anymore. How long should I keep her inside? Will she have to pass the yolk? I can still feel something but it's much much smaller!
I will definitely get the x-ray and share the experience with the group. Hoping I can help others who are dealing with this!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I can't thank you enough for helping me. The vet finally called in antibiotics. She is doing great now.. eating, drinking, and poop is not watery anymore. How long should I keep her inside? Will she have to pass the yolk? I can still feel something but it's much much smaller!
I will definitely get the x-ray and share the experience with the group. Hoping I can help others who are dealing with this!

I'm glad to hear she's eating/drinking and doing well!
What antibiotic did your vet call in for you?
If she has EYP she won't pass the yolk that is in the abdomen it has no way out.
If she is strong enough to go back out, then I would start introducing her back to flock as soon as you can.

 

[KK'schicks]

She put her on bactrim .3 ml twice a day for 21 days. If I put her back in coop I can't eat the other girls eggs either right? Since she's on antibiotics?
The stupid vet told me if she doesn't pass the yolk she won't make it!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She put her on bactrim .3 ml twice a day for 21 days. If I put her back in coop I can't eat the other girls eggs either right? Since she's on antibiotics?
The stupid vet told me if she doesn't pass the yolk she won't make it!

Are you giving her the medication orally, not in the water? If that's the case and you know which egg is hers if she lays one, then just throw hers away.

If all the hens are getting antibiotics, then yes, throw those away too.

Interesting what your vet said. On the xray - Does he feel like she has an egg in the oviduct or the abdomen? Could he have meant she had an impacted oviduct or Salpingitis?