Hen laid 4 eggs in one day *UPDATE*: she's back from the vet!

[MoodyChicken]

There is nothing you can do to reverse this. It sounds like a congenital thing. An Avian Specialist can remove her ovary (very risky surgery, and very expensive) and that will stop all egg laying. There are hormones you can give her (I *think* it's called Lupin or something like that? I might be totally off), but it's really expensive and requires daily use. If I remember correctly this hormone will keep her in a permanent molt. Ususally the oviduct is removed also with this strategy. Sorry for your situation. Best of luck and I hope it ends happily.

 

[caralouise1974]

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So if I got a vet to perform the surgery and it was successful, then that would put an end to it, right? I don't care if it costs hundreds of pounds, I just want Bella to be well and for me to be able to have the peace if mind to sleep again at night.

 

[jjthink]

Cara - I was just looking for some of the other threads that were about hens with hysterectomy type surgeries done and I am not yet stumbling upon them. I had hoped to provide you with the links. They're around somewhere! (assuming they weren't deleted in any site cleanups..)
JJ

 

[MoodyChicken]

Quote:
Removing both ovaries (sometimes the inactive one can become functional if the good one is removed) will make her completely sterile. She will also look different. Next molt, she will take on the neutral "poulard" plumage which looks like a male's plumage but longer and softer. A friend of mine paid to have her hen's oviduct removed and I think she said it cost $1300 (US money). In her case the hen kept her ovaries and thus continued to produce estrogen, but her owner had to, on a daily basis, give her hormones to stop the laying process.

 

[caralouise1974]

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Aha - found one! And a complete and utter success it was too!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=22773

I feel a little better about her prospects now - perhaps I'll get some sleep tonight...

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

surely you will get this all straightened out
It must be quite expensive to have all this done for a chicken?
Maybe these procedures are learning experience for vets

 

[jjthink]

Hey Cara - Good find! And that's even a different one than I had in mind - there's at least one other thread out there that is very extensive and informative. Re: the one you found - Jill lives only about 35 minutes form me and my Betty had surgery from the same vet. I was really glad things went well for Jill's feathered friend.
JJ

 

[caralouise1974]

It seems that the lovely caring owner of the hen in the thread I've linked to above paid $350 for her surgery - which is absolutely within the realms of what I'd be prepared to pay for peace of mind over my poor girl's health. $1300 was seeming untenable, considering I'm eight months pregnant and trying to scrimp every penny for the new baby, but $350, now that I can live with.

Perhaps vets do relish the idea of learning from an unusual surgery like this, and are prepared to discount the price somewhat... I do hope that I can find one who will!

 

[caralouise1974]

Quote:
I wish I lived near you! This vet is a hero!

 

[caralouise1974]

Update: I just got a reply from The Chicken Doctor over on Feather Fanciers.com (as recommended on BYC) and he's very sure that what we're dealing with is a hormone imbalance called Chronic Egg Laying (rare in chickens but not so rare in other birds, such as parakeets).

He suggests a forced moult type of situation, to stop egg production, then treatment with the hormone Lupron (which some clever BYCer mentioned earlier I think - top marks to you!).

Right, I am off to speak to my nearest avian specialist vet and get this situation sorted out.

Thanks everyone for all your wonderful advice! I love BYC!