My Black Star is Sick!

[Tamigirl37]

Hello, I am needing some help. I have an almost 2-year-old sick Black Star. She is sitting up and walking like a Penguin. I'm not sure if she's egg bound or if she has a water belly. She is active and eating, but she drags her butt on the ground. She hasn't gained any weight. I did feel an egg or mass in her soft belly area below her vent, but I'm not sure if it's an egg or not. I tried soaking her to help her to pass it if it is an egg. Is there anything else I can try or should I just go ahead and put her down. I haven't had a chicken act like this before. Below is a picture of her.

Thanks for your help.
Tami

 

[RodNTN]

She looks egg bound But this can easily be helped. I'll tag some experts:
@Eggcessive @rjohns39 @oldhenlikesdogs @casportpony @Wyorp Rock

I am so sorry about this!

 

[rjohns39]

Soo sorry for your issue I'm still learning so will hang with you for the more experienced folks to give advice.

 

[casportpony]

Can you post a picture of her belly and vent?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh dear...

Is she pooping at all? When you soaked her, did you happen to insert a finger about 1" into the vent to feel for an egg?

You mention that you do feel egg/mass in the abdomen? She does look quite thin, when was the last time she laid an egg? How long has she been in this "position" with her stance?

It's so very hard to know what to do in a situation like this. Give her a thorough going over - if she is pooping, then she is not "egg bound" (doesn't have an egg stuck). Feeling masses or an egg in the abdomen, to me, would indicate internal laying/reproductive issues - it could be cancer, tumors, Salpingitis or Egg Yolk Peritonitis (sometimes a combination). Without taking a look after she's gone, there's no way to know for sure.

It does sound like you have tried what you can, you can continue to offer supportive care over the course of a couple of days to see if she gets better, but she may decline further. If you feel like she is in pain/suffering, then it's best to put her out of her misery. If you do end her suffering, and aren't squeamish, you can do an informal necropsy yourself, looking for the masses/egg you felt in the abdomen and at her internal organs.

I'm very sorry, I wish I had better answers for you.

 

[casportpony]

Oh dear...

Is she pooping at all? When you soaked her, did you happen to insert a finger about 1" into the vent to feel for an egg?

You mention that you do feel egg/mass in the abdomen? She does look quite thin, when was the last time she laid an egg? How long has she been in this "position" with her stance?

It's so very hard to know what to do in a situation like this. Give her a thorough going over - if she is pooping, then she is not "egg bound" (doesn't have an egg stuck). Feeling masses or an egg in the abdomen, to me, would indicate internal laying/reproductive issues - it could be cancer, tumors, Salpingitis or Egg Yolk Peritonitis (sometimes a combination). Without taking a look after she's gone, there's no way to know for sure.

It does sound like you have tried what you can, you can continue to offer supportive care over the course of a couple of days to see if she gets better, but she may decline further. If you feel like she is in pain/suffering, then it's best to put her out of her misery. If you do end her suffering, and aren't squeamish, you can do an informal necropsy yourself, looking for the masses/egg you felt in the abdomen and at her internal organs.

I'm very sorry, I wish I had better answers for you.

Great post!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She looks to me like she either has a back problem, or she's internally laying. I would give her a day or two than probably cull. Sex links are prone to reproductive problems and cancers.

 

[RodNTN]

If she is egg bound, there is a great chance of saving her! Don't cull just yet!
Here is a very helpful article:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms.html

 

[Tamigirl37]

Hey, all I'm sorry I'm just responding. I didn't realize I had replies and thank you for them. An update on Beauty. She is doing well. It has been so cold down here that I only soaked her a couple of times and then decided to let Mother Nature take its course and she has recovered. During this whole time her mood, eating and mobility didn't change so I figured that as long as she's eating, getting around good and her mood was good then I'll let her let me know when it's time to let her go. So far so good. She is no longer walking like a Penguin. I haven't checked for mass yet though. I don't think she's laying, but not many of my girls are right now. I decided to incorporate some booster pellets into their food. They get to graze daily, but not as much as I'd like. We have Hawks like crazy and if I let them out all day every day I wouldn't have any chickens left. Is there anything that any of you can recommend to help them with their shell development? They have access to the crushed oyster shells and I give them crushed up egg shells as well. Thanks for all your advice.

 

[rebrascora]

Amazed to hear that she has improved. I hope that situation continues. You can give some liquid calcium supplement on/in a favourite treat... a crushed Tums tablet can also be used if that's all you have to hand. Unfortunately some birds develop a problem absorbing and or utilising calcium and produce weak shelled eggs regardless of how much calcium you give them, which leaves them vulnerable to an egg breaking inside them and the associated risks of infection. I'm not sure there is really anything much you can do for those hens unless you want to go down the route of hormonal implants to prevent them from ovulating, which is an expensive procedure that needs to be repeated every 3-6 months.