My Experience Fighting Egg Yolk Peritonitis

[Swilso3]

2 weeks ago, my favorite hen--a tiny 17-month old EE named "Easter" (creative, I know)--was diagnosed with EYP. She didn't have the classic presentation: swollen belly, fluffed up behavior, weight loss, etc., but was diagnosed via x-ray. Initially, I brought her to the vet because a soft-shell egg had broken inside her, and following that, her crop had water ballooned out. While the vet didn't find any remaining eggs or swelling upon her exam, a vague shadow appeared on the x-ray that denoted a likely case of EYP. I can't say I was altogether surprised: Easter had been laying soft-shell eggs for the last 5 months or so, almost daily. While I wanted to believe she was just a quirky layer and would always be, some part of me knew that her laying behavior spelled future issues, and that my time with her might be cut short. I did my best to lavish her with belly rubs and special, healthy treats in the meantime.

We are now just finishing up Easter's 2 week course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, and her response has been, well, ambivalent. She's alert, vocal, scratches and runs around, roosts, etc.; her crop functions normally again; but she has not yet gained back an appetite sufficient to keep her alive without nightly force-feeding (her poops are normal when she's eating). For every moment she suddenly has an appetite and gets me hopeful, she just as soon will turn her nose up at the idea of eating, reminding me that her progress is tenuous at best. To top it off, the poor girl is dealing with a full-scale moult--wherever she goes, she leaves a pile of feathers. New ones are also growing in, but I know the process can take a toll on an already immunocompromised hen. And due to her low appetite, it's hard to really bolster her protein intake.

What's frustrating is that, while I know the likely outcome of EYP, it's been hard to make the decision to let her go gently. She's never gotten to the point of being fluffed up, listless, and weak--in fact, despite her lack of eating, she's still strong, lightning-fast, and surprisingly punchy. The only difference is that I can feel her body slowly turning into mere skin and bones. Should I put down a hen who is still showing a zeal for life? Or is she only showing a zeal as a built-in instinct to survive, wanting to appear "normal"? I want to do right by her. I love her, and if/when I let her go, she will be my first flock loss (and a BIG one: I will have lost the hen I've bonded with most). In the meantime, I alternate between letting her free range and hang out with her flock--which I think she prefers--and then suddenly worrying such an environment is forcing her to be "on" in a way that doesn't allow her to rest (and then take her in to eat). Neither scenario has a clear positive influence.

I'm not sure why I'm posting this. I guess to vent about something that's been weighing on me deeply. I'm trying to grapple with her eventual end, while also remaining hopeful, while also struggling with whether I'm doing the right thing. It's all very confusing. Thank you to whoever takes the time to read this.

Love you, Easter.

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I love my EE. If shes not suffering why not keep her and see. I think she will show you when she gives up

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I love my EE. If shes not suffering why not keep her and see. I think she will show you when she gives up

My little trooper is still here and thriving! I will fight tooth and nail for this chicken. I think part of the reason for her turnaround was because she realized she didn't have a choice but to get better!

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Thank you for your story to!

Hello, and happy holidays to you and your flock! How is Joy doing?

My Easter is still healthy and thriving. However, while snowed in during a Christmas Storm, she laid a big blue egg--her first since the EYP incident in September. While it was healthy and strong-shelled, it was sitting in the middle of the coop, which makes me worry she laid it from the roost (a sign of old habits from the outset of her laying issues). I was hoping she'd miraculously not lay ever again, which I realize is unrealistic. But I'm hoping the time off from laying helped her system rest and mend, and perhaps she has ironed out the kinks. I will stay cautiously optimistic for her.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Hello, and happy holidays to you and your flock! How is Joy doing?

My Easter is still healthy and thriving. However, while snowed in during a Christmas Storm, she laid a big blue egg--her first since the EYP incident in September. While it was healthy and strong-shelled, it was sitting in the middle of the coop, which makes me worry she laid it from the roost (a sign of old habits from the outset of her laying issues). I was hoping she'd miraculously not lay ever again, which I realize is unrealistic. But I'm hoping the time off from laying helped her system rest and mend, and perhaps she has ironed out the kinks. I will stay cautiously optimistic for her.

View attachment 2464099

Beautiful egg! I also hope Joy never lays again, but I also realize after her molt, she could very well start again. I’m very glad to hear it’s a strong shelled egg- and by that pointy tip and blue tint, it looks exactly like my EEs first egg. Perhaps she laid from the roost because she’s just starting again. I hope that the rest will be in the boxes. I have only found one egg laid from a roost and it was one of JB’s first (my EE who is laying) and I suspect it happend because she was unprepared. Offer plenty of oyster With the layer feed. Calcium is the #1 thing in strong shells, and strong shells are the #1 thing in preventing EYP! Joy is doing well, and her present was a nice new feeder. The girls are all very happy, and my Wyandotte squatted first the first time a couple days ago. I’m hoping for eggs from her soon!

Happy holidays to your flock to! That big blue present you got hopefully is a good sign rather than a bad one.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Beautiful egg! I also hope Joy never lays again, but I also realize after her molt, she could very well start again. I’m very glad to hear it’s a strong shelled egg- and by that pointy tip and blue tint, it looks exactly like my EEs first egg. Perhaps she laid from the roost because she’s just starting again. I hope that the rest will be in the boxes. I have only found one egg laid from a roost and it was one of JB’s first (my EE who is laying) and I suspect it happend because she was unprepared. Offer plenty of oyster With the layer feed. Calcium is the #1 thing in strong shells, and strong shells are the #1 thing in preventing EYP! Joy is doing well, and her present was a nice new feeder. The girls are all very happy, and my Wyandotte squatted first the first time a couple days ago. I’m hoping for eggs from her soon!

Happy holidays to your flock to! That big blue present you got hopefully is a good sign rather than a bad one.

Fingers crossed for a new year full of your Wyandotte's first eggs! I'm glad Joy is doing well and enjoying her break. Our chickens work hard and I'm more than happy that they take vacations now and then. I'll definitely incorporate your pointers in keeping Easter's system running smoothly.

All the best and keep me posted from time to time

 

[CHlCKEN]

Fingers crossed for a new year full of your Wyandotte's first eggs! I'm glad Joy is doing well and enjoying her break. Our chickens work hard and I'm more than happy that they take vacations now and then. I'll definitely incorporate your pointers in keeping Easter's system running smoothly.

All the best and keep me posted from time to time

Certainly! I would love to hear your updates to

 

[Compostflower]

Hey how did everything go ?

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Hey how did everything go ?

My Easter Egger is still with us, going on 4 years now. She still lays CRAZY frequently--as in, her body wants her to push out eggs less than 24 hours apart without a break ever--but through reducing light during peak laying season and giving her natural anti-inflammatories (turmeric, coconut oil and black pepper in a daily mash while laying), she's staying strong and hasn't had another incident with EYP since this post. *knocks on wood* She's currently going through a hard molt like a champ, so I take heart in knowing she'll get a nice long natural break.

 

[Compostflower]

That’s wonderful to hear bless her and you for taking good care of her !