Help! Sick 2yr old chicken …pics posted

[arizona_chicken_noob]

Is this one of the production hybrids? I missed the breed and I myself am no expert but as another poster pointed out, 2-3 is about that time that some production hybrids have reproductive problems. (Or so I have read)

 

[Tookie]

How is she?

 

[Kg2022]

She is of a breed where reproductive tract issues are relatively common around this age. @Wyorp Rock provides good thoughts and links. Sorry that you/she are having to deal with this.

What breed is she?

 

[Kg2022]

I had a girl who laid a lash egg, though that was her only problem, and she didn't appear sick. If it helps, I was advised to give 250 mg amoxycillian once a day for 10 days. I've heard some feed stores carry it; none near me did, so I ran around looking for someone to do me a favor and write an Rx. The amoxicillian did help her -- she hasn't laid another, and is still doing ok.

Best of luck. I know how frightening and stressful this is for you both.

Ty for the info. How did you administer the amoxicillin ?

 

[Kg2022]

How is she?

I just checked on her and she actually tried to eat a little bit. I’m struggling with hydrating her with a syringe. Just adding water to her food. She seems weak but better than earlier today. I started her on Corid and then saw the lash eggs…no more lash eggs since earlier today…and wondering if I need to stop the Corid?.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you. So do you not think she could have coccidiosis also? Why all of a sudden is she pushing these out?

She gets better and then this decline. About a month ago she was high step walking. And then she was better again. Just had to move the chicken coop and hurricane, which I brought her in garage….a lot of stressors. What to do so she doesn’t suffer. Can I treat her for something else? Or since she is laying lash eggs… that’s her main issue?

I posted above. She’s been in a slow decline. Really bad now. Brought her in before hurricane. These are things I have tried for months now, since she hasn’t laid since early summer. Hot summer in NC.
-Epsom salt bath, lubed vent…don’t think she is egg bound. Checked a few times.
-Mites/lice used poultry protector
-added Nutri drench to water
- She had an impacted crop…massaged on daily basis and it’s slowly loosening
-poops are rarely normal. Usually yellow, white watery…some times little black pieces.
-Coccidiosis? Something else? She’s bottom of pecking order and have 4 other hens. One did pass this summer.

What is going on? Are those lash eggs? Not larger than a quarter….anything I can do???

Thanks

Welcome To BYC

You are correct, it looks like those are lash eggs, Salpingitis.

Offer your hen supportive care, keeping her hydrated and eating. You can give her 1 Calcium Citrate with D3 daily to see if that helps her expel any more lash eggs that may be hard to pass.
If caught very early, you can try giving an antibiotic as another supportive care and comfort measure.

Since you were able to recognize what this was, then you must know a bit about the condition. Unfortunately, there's no "cure" but sometimes a hen may improve for a period of time with supportive care measures, but eventually they will succumb to the condition or continue to decline, and you'll need to put her out of her misery.

Here's some reading for you.

https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/causes-of-lash-eggs-salpingitis-by/

We are not vets here on BYC, just keepers like you.

You could treat for Coccidiosis is that's what you think may be helpful, but with the passing of the lash material I would say the infection and inflammation of the oviduct, Salpingitis is the root cause of her decline. Other symptoms and/or conditions can accompany or affect a hen that is in a state of decline.

An impacted crop is often a symptom seen in hens that have reproductive disorders. If she's got lice/mites, that's pretty common too since the hen usually is not preening and dust bathing.

She may have more lash material to pass. As mentioned previously, you can give her Calcium daily to see if that helps her expel the material. An antibiotic may help with the infection and inflammation, make her more comfortable and extend life. Baytril or Amoxicillin are good choices to use.


Her stance says that she's not doing very well.

 

[Kg2022]

Thank you for your response. I understand BYC isn’t a vet group …I have been reading BYC post for a few months now and it has guided me with learning more about chickens. I say Baytryl at tractor supply and I have some amoxicillin of my own I can try. How would you suggest giving her the amoxicillin?

 

[Tookie]

What breed is she?

She is probably a Red Sex Link.
Breeds like her are bred to lay lots of eggs so they often get reproduction issues as your has.

 

[Kg2022]

Again thanks for responding ! I really appreciate it ! @Wyorp Rock

 

[Kg2022]

She is probably a Red Sex Link.
Breeds like her are bred to lay lots of eggs so they often get reproduction issues as your has.

That’s so sad! I guess these are all the same type?