Help with EYP or Ascites?

[TwitchysChicks]

I'm going to tell you something that isn't pleasant. I've been there numerous times. There is nothing you can do for this hen. That's the long and sort of it. This condition is chronic. No matter what you do, draining, antibiotics, supportive care, she is terminal. A veterinarian is not going to help her, even if you had one. He might take your money but he would be lying if he said there was hope for her.

She is a production hen, very prone to this sort of malfunction. Trust me, I've lost probably 15 of them, plus a couple of good breeder quality hens, to egg yolk peritonitis, internal laying and/ or reproductive cancer, sometimes they all exist at once. Hatchery hens are the worst for it, sucky genetics. Breeder quality hens rarely die from this, at least in my own experience over the past 13 years. I now have 8,9,10, and 11+ year old hens since all my hatchery stock died off. None have this type of reproductive issue, though some have run out of eggs.

You're doing all you can, giving her good protein and love. I'm very sorry because I know all too well how you feel.

Mine turned 1 December 6th. This past week she has had water belly. I added new hens 2mths ago and that's when it went downhill. An egg was broken inside her and smelled rotten. Then she had egg yolk diarrhea. Everything seemed fine after her antibiotics but now she has water belly. I read only 3yr olds and up get it. What did I do wrong?

 

[TwitchysChicks]

They do not always have the bloat, though. Some of mine never bloated at all, just began losing weight, quit laying and became progressively weak. Upon internal post-mortem examination, they'd have masses of cheesy mess inside of them, but you often couldn't feel it from the outside. So, don't beat yourself up about missing signs. There may not have been many. The first hen I had who died from EYP had no signs, just was lethargic one day, sitting in the shade on a cold day, which alerted me. I picked her up, examined her and could find nothing wrong. Next day, she was just gone, loose yolk all in her abdomen when we looked in there.

that was my hen last summer. Nothing wrong until she died. Found the yolk afterwards. Now her daughter has it

 

[bobbi-j]

that was my hen last summer. Nothing wrong until she died. Found the yolk afterwards. Now her daughter has it

It may be something genetic rather than anything you have done wrong. Since my chickens are livestock, she would likely be culled if she has recurring problems.

 

[speckledhen]

Mine turned 1 December 6th. This past week she has had water belly. I added new hens 2mths ago and that's when it went downhill. An egg was broken inside her and smelled rotten. Then she had egg yolk diarrhea. Everything seemed fine after her antibiotics but now she has water belly. I read only 3yr olds and up get it. What did I do wrong?

You did nothing wrong. Sadly, hatchery hens, especially, are prone to this stuff, especially sex links and production reds. They have bad genetics. I assume your hen was a hatchery gal? It's not only 3 years and up, not at all. My very first hen I lost to Egg Yolk Peritonitis had just turned 2 years old, a hatchery Wyandotte. Later on, I lost a 1 year old Wyandotte to EYP. Most of the time, they are at least 2 years old, but not always.

 

[TwitchysChicks]

You did nothing wrong. Sadly, hatchery hens, especially, are prone to this stuff, especially sex links and production reds. They have bad genetics. I assume your hen was a hatchery gal? It's not only 3 years and up, not at all. My very first hen I lost to Egg Yolk Peritonitis had just turned 2 years old, a hatchery Wyandotte. Later on, I lost a 1 year old Wyandotte to EYP. Most of the time, they are at least 2 years old, but not always.

The last one I lost to eyp turned one...never had symptoms and died. This one laid a broken egg, pooed the yellow, and has ascites. This is the first morning she hasnt gotten up before me. I think ill bring her back to her sisters for a good bye before she leaves this earth. I'm never getting rhode islands or anything like that again. My other fancy girls are completely fine

 

[TwitchysChicks]

You did nothing wrong. Sadly, hatchery hens, especially, are prone to this stuff, especially sex links and production reds. They have bad genetics. I assume your hen was a hatchery gal? It's not only 3 years and up, not at all. My very first hen I lost to Egg Yolk Peritonitis had just turned 2 years old, a hatchery Wyandotte. Later on, I lost a 1 year old Wyandotte to EYP. Most of the time, they are at least 2 years old, but not always.

She also is not a hatchery. I hatched her out myself. She was a sticky chick stuck inside her egg. I helped her out and washed her up. Surprised she lasted this long. She never really grew as big as her litter. Shes tiny like her mother. If theres literally nothing I can do for her, ill just make a nice bed for her in the coop and let her sisters have the last days. Its selfish of me to bring her in all to myself. I just need to let go and actually sleep for a night.

 

[bobbi-j]

She also is not a hatchery. I hatched her out myself. She was a sticky chick stuck inside her egg. I helped her out and washed her up. Surprised she lasted this long. She never really grew as big as her litter. Shes tiny like her mother. If theres literally nothing I can do for her, ill just make a nice bed for her in the coop and let her sisters have the last days. Its selfish of me to bring her in all to myself. I just need to let go and actually sleep for a night.

Where did her parents come from? If they were hatchery stock, your chicken still has those genetics.

I would not put her back with the flock in her weakened condition. Her flock mates likely will pick on her because of it. If you know she’s dying, the kindest thing to do would be to put her down and end her suffering quickly. If you can’t do it yourself, find a vet who will.

 

[speckledhen]

Where did her parents come from? If they were hatchery stock, your chicken still has those genetics.

This is true, what Bobbi said. Direct from hatchery or daughter of hatchery stock are the most at risk in my experience, though there are definite exceptions and the further from the direct hatchery stock you get, the better off you'll be. My oldest hen now is almost 12, still lays a few eggs once a year, is very crippled with arthritis, but fiesty and she is the daughter of a McMurray Barred Rock pair. But, she is the exception to the rule, for sure. All of my other hens who are 8-11+ years old are breeder stock.

Allowing her coop mates to see her once more is something you'd have to supervise. I don't remove mine who are dying unless they are non-responsive so they are always with their "sisters", but if I have to do that, I may take the body back to show them so they can get it through their little brains that she is gone and why. It's just something I've always done. Mine rarely pick on a dying bird if she has never left the group; in fact, they surround her and sit close to her until she breathes her last. I don't euthanize mine unless it's just going on and on and on and she has been out of it for too long. I just let them die peacefully with their coop mates.

 

[TwitchysChicks]

This is true, what Bobbi said. Direct from hatchery or daughter of hatchery stock are the most at risk in my experience, though there are definite exceptions and the further from the direct hatchery stock you get, the better off you'll be. My oldest hen now is almost 12, still lays a few eggs once a year, is very crippled with arthritis, but fiesty and she is the daughter of a McMurray Barred Rock pair. But, she is the exception to the rule, for sure. All of my other hens who are 8-11+ years old are breeder stock.

Allowing her coop mates to see her once more is something you'd have to supervise. I don't remove mine who are dying unless they are non-responsive so they are always with their "sisters", but if I have to do that, I may take the body back to show them so they can get it through their little brains that she is gone and why. It's just something I've always done. Mine rarely pick on a dying bird if she has never left the group; in fact, they surround her and sit close to her until she breathes her last. I don't euthanize mine unless it's just going on and on and on and she has been out of it for too long. I just let them die peacefully with their coop mates.

So theres no fixing ascites? Its terminal right? Nobody is picking on her. Her litter is hanging with her. Shes going back and forth between her spot and eating and drinking and still picking at the new girls. But goes back to her dark corner. I dont have the heart to put her down. I only drained 12mg today and her abdomen is still swollen. Her mom came from some guy who was hatching some chicks and her dad came from the flea market. Dont have any history on them

 

[speckledhen]

So theres no fixing ascites? Its terminal right? Nobody is picking on her. Her litter is hanging with her. Shes going back and forth between her spot and eating and drinking and still picking at the new girls. But goes back to her dark corner. I dont have the heart to put her down. I only drained 12mg today and her abdomen is still swollen. Her mom came from some guy who was hatching some chicks and her dad came from the flea market. Dont have any history on them

Ascites is not the main issue, only a symptom of what is wrong inside. It is either egg yolk peritonitis and/or internal laying or could even be liver or heart failure, all of which build up fluid in the body. Yes, it is terminal. The egg issues are really genetic /hormone based. Did you watch my video that explains a lot of this?