Hello chicken people!
It’s been a while since I posted on here, but alas, I once again have a chicken health issue.
I have a Rhode Island Red hen, 2 years old, with some issues. Her abdomen is swollen and is a little on the firm side (it isn’t hard, but not super squishy - I can gently poke at it and it gives some). It also feels like their are hard bumps at the bottom of her breast bone (between her legs).
I don’t think she has been laying, and she has a slight waddle to her walk. She finally had her first adult molt about three weeks ago and her breathing is labored after vigorous activity (jumping into my lap, running across the run to get snacks, struggling to get free if I’m holding her still to examine her).
All these symptoms were showing a couple weeks ago so I first tried to give her an epsom salt bath with no egg ejection. Thinking she might have egg yolk peritonitis (a month or two prior to this, she had passed two soft-shelled eggs during an epsom salt bath and was fine after that for quite a while), I read some forum posts and found some fish amoxicillin and started giving her that (she was much more lethargic during that first episode of what I thought was egg yolk peritonitis and I kept her inside during treatment). She started to improve over the five days I treated her and acted healthy and her swelling even went down.
Then came the second incident - the swollen abdomen and labored breathing. I treated her with the amoxicillin once again - for five days - and her breathing returned to normal (though she still has a bit of a waddle and the swollen abdomen).
Tonight when I checked on her, she seemed to be breathing heavily again (will see how she’s doing in the morning).
So, to sum things up …
Hen showed signs of egg yolk peritonitis about 1-2 months ago (swollen abdomen and lethargy). After amoxicillin treatment for 5-7 days, hen improved and went back outside with the flock.
More recently (about two weeks ago) same hen has swollen abdomen again with labored breathing (mostly after vigorous activity). Treated again for 5 days with amoxicillin. Breathing returned to normal and hen acting healthy (though abdomen still a bit swollen).
More info: She is eating normally (maybe a little less than usual because her crop isn’t super-stuffed at night) and acting normally as well (except for the slight waddle). She poops normally, as far as I can tell. She isn’t lethargic or fluffed up like she was the first time she was sick. Other than the swelling, slight waddle, and occasional heavy breathing, she’s acting fine and will even jump in my lap from time to time.
So, does anyone have any ideas? Anyone have this happen to them? I did purchase some 18 gauge needles and syringes to attempt an at-home drain (in case it’s water belly). We do have a vet who will see chickens, but I just had to take my old cat in for tests (and sadly had to euthanize him the next day
), so I really can’t afford another vet bill right now (and it would be horrible to lose another pet so soon 
). The amoxicillin seems to help, but I’m not sure how long I can give a chicken amoxicillin before it stops working/causes harm. Thanks to anyone who has any feedback!
It’s been a while since I posted on here, but alas, I once again have a chicken health issue.
I have a Rhode Island Red hen, 2 years old, with some issues. Her abdomen is swollen and is a little on the firm side (it isn’t hard, but not super squishy - I can gently poke at it and it gives some). It also feels like their are hard bumps at the bottom of her breast bone (between her legs).
I don’t think she has been laying, and she has a slight waddle to her walk. She finally had her first adult molt about three weeks ago and her breathing is labored after vigorous activity (jumping into my lap, running across the run to get snacks, struggling to get free if I’m holding her still to examine her).
All these symptoms were showing a couple weeks ago so I first tried to give her an epsom salt bath with no egg ejection. Thinking she might have egg yolk peritonitis (a month or two prior to this, she had passed two soft-shelled eggs during an epsom salt bath and was fine after that for quite a while), I read some forum posts and found some fish amoxicillin and started giving her that (she was much more lethargic during that first episode of what I thought was egg yolk peritonitis and I kept her inside during treatment). She started to improve over the five days I treated her and acted healthy and her swelling even went down.
Then came the second incident - the swollen abdomen and labored breathing. I treated her with the amoxicillin once again - for five days - and her breathing returned to normal (though she still has a bit of a waddle and the swollen abdomen).
Tonight when I checked on her, she seemed to be breathing heavily again (will see how she’s doing in the morning).
So, to sum things up …
Hen showed signs of egg yolk peritonitis about 1-2 months ago (swollen abdomen and lethargy). After amoxicillin treatment for 5-7 days, hen improved and went back outside with the flock.
More recently (about two weeks ago) same hen has swollen abdomen again with labored breathing (mostly after vigorous activity). Treated again for 5 days with amoxicillin. Breathing returned to normal and hen acting healthy (though abdomen still a bit swollen).
More info: She is eating normally (maybe a little less than usual because her crop isn’t super-stuffed at night) and acting normally as well (except for the slight waddle). She poops normally, as far as I can tell. She isn’t lethargic or fluffed up like she was the first time she was sick. Other than the swelling, slight waddle, and occasional heavy breathing, she’s acting fine and will even jump in my lap from time to time.
So, does anyone have any ideas? Anyone have this happen to them? I did purchase some 18 gauge needles and syringes to attempt an at-home drain (in case it’s water belly). We do have a vet who will see chickens, but I just had to take my old cat in for tests (and sadly had to euthanize him the next day
), so I really can’t afford another vet bill right now (and it would be horrible to lose another pet so soon ). The amoxicillin seems to help, but I’m not sure how long I can give a chicken amoxicillin before it stops working/causes harm. Thanks to anyone who has any feedback!
). Thanks again!!
. She even jumped into my lap a couple of times when I sit on the plastic chair I’ve got set up in their run. Her comb and wattles are still red and she’s still eating and drinking and putting herself to bed in the raised nesting boxes. I’m hoping she just doesn’t get any worse. Still might try an epsom salt bath, but at a time where I can take the extra time to do it because she likes to fight against anything I attempt to make her better 
. Anyway, thanks again!
. My mom and I finally tried to drain her. We got out about 30-40 mL of fluid, and then I took her out of the towel to check on her and she was in respiratory distress. She passed rather quickly (less than five minutes) and I stayed with her as she slipped away.
.
