How to treat egg yolk peritonitis

[ALJhappychicken]

I have a hen that hasn't been moving too much. She's been seriously losing weight and has a thin breast bone. I've been told she has egg yolk peritonitis. How should I treat her?

 

[Judy]

There is no cure for this, except possibly surgery, which is about as dangerous for them as the condition. Some people treat the symptoms with needle drainage of the fluid in the abdomen and with antibiotics. There isn't much you can give a chicken for pain, though, other than aspirin, and I would think it is a pretty painful conditon. Below are some links about the condition if you want to read some more (it's also called internal laying.) Best of luck.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...sy-photos-of-cause-of-death/0_20#post_5028516

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/79443/tell-me-about-your-internal-layers/80_20#post_6235380

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/639749/timeline-of-internal-laying-update/0_20