I just lost my favorite hen ~ egg yolk peritonitis :(

[casportpony]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I will ask my vet about the Lupron.
I've had chickens for 4 years but wonder if I'm not doing something right. Aside from dusting for lice every now and again, am I supposed to give antibiotics periodically to prevent something? I never can figure out why it seems my chickens go through dry spells of not laying. My barred rock isn't laying but she was attacked by a fox 16 days ago (she's doing great) and my mixed barred rock and buff orpington isn't laying. My leghorn isn't laying and unfortunately is exhibiting some of the same symptoms as the white leghorn who died (depressed because her buddy is gone?) - the only one that is laying right now is my buff orpongton. They all look healthy with the exception of the leghorn so I don't know. My local vet does not treat chickens so I'm pretty much on my own. Am I missing something?

Welcome to BYC sorry for your loss.

You should probably also have them on a worming program.

FWIW, I've lost six in the last few months to oviduct cancer, EYP and what I think was a heart attack brought on by being egg bound, but I didn't do a necropsy on her, so I can't be sure... she just died in my arms while I was trying to lube her vent to halp her pass the egg.

 

[casportpony]

My favorite blue cochin (bantam) hen "Amie" died in my arms this afternoon. I was told she had egg yolk peritonitis. She was very fat (I didn't know that until I did her necropsy).

She had been recovering from a head injury, when I noticed poop stuck on her vent area, as well as a bunch of small white pustules. As I was cleaning that stuff off her in the tub, she got stressed and passed out. I tried to revive her, but failed. She also had an egg stuck inside her, no way for it to get out (I think it was in the wrong place). Upon necropsy I found a TON of yellow fat (could be why her egg couldn't pass). Over an inch thick. You can see in the pics she had lots of eggs developing inside her (all different sizes).
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Sorry for your loss.

I've read about something called fatty liver disease in poultry, not sure what it looks like, but you might want to check it out. I'd probably also send those pictures to the State lab, I'm sure they would be able to give you some answers.

 

[Funky Feathers]

It was not fatty liver. Her liver was fine. I sent the pics to a Vet who knows poultry, she said it was egg yolk peritonitis.