My Experience Fighting Egg Yolk Peritonitis

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

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.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

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., but 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 mount--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 am so sorry you are having to go through so much with your poor striving hen who has such a best for life. She must really be a fighter and you a superior Chicken Mom. It is hard to deal with such a difficult situation when these things Keep happening over and over again. It is of no fault of yours and sometimes even when you have done all you can many times over nature when’s out and always maintains the upper hand. Just think of what could happen if she was allowed to have fertilized eggs. She might have chicks with severe medical or developmental problems. You never know or in having them it might kill her and be the last straw that really breaks the camels back. The ones that we spend so much time with and so much money into are the hardest ones to let go of as well. I don’t know what I would do if I had to cull one of mine and I have my first backyard flock of nine. I have always had animals for forty plus years in my whole life but have never had to put an animal down. I don’t know how I have managed to get around it but God has blessed me in that. I would not handle it well but yet I know it is coming especially since I now own the chickens. The reason even more so because I own chickens now and I am going to have a terrible time with it if I have to do it myself. Horrible. So I don’t blame you a bit for having a difficult time with putting culling your fighting chickens time off. Not one bit. You love her and the rest of your animals and birds.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I am so sorry you are having to go through so much with your poor striving hen who has such a best for life. She must really be a fighter and you a superior Chicken Mom. It is hard to deal with such a difficult situation when these things Keep happening over and over again. It is of no fault of yours and sometimes even when you have done all you can many times over nature when’s out and always maintains the upper hand. Just think of what could happen if she was allowed to have fertilized eggs. She might have chicks with severe medical or developmental problems. You never know or in having them it might kill her and be the last straw that really breaks the camels back. The ones that we spend so much time with and so much money into are the hardest ones to let go of as well. I don’t know what I would do if I had to cull one of mine and I have my first backyard flock of nine. I have always had animals for forty plus years in my whole life but have never had to put an animal down. I don’t know how I have managed to get around it but God has blessed me in that. I would not handle it well but yet I know it is coming especially since I now own the chickens. The reason even more so because I own chickens now and I am going to have a terrible time with it if I have to do it myself. Horrible. So I don’t blame you a bit for having a difficult time with putting culling your fighting chickens time off. Not one bit. You love her and the rest of your animals and birds.

Thank you so much for this. You are right that letting her carry on might end up being more painful for her (and others); and right in saying all the time and money put into her makes it even harder (such investment is only an indication of how much I care about her and want her to survive). In fact, the vet bills on this one ended up being a point of tension for a while with my SO--I don't regret it regardless of what happens, and ultimately he's been supportive, but it wasn't an easy thing to spend those resources on her.

Congrats on your first flock--I wish you and all 9 many happy years together. No matter how many times people tell you (and you tell yourself) you have to be prepared to lose some along the way, or make the difficult decision to cull them, it still hits like a punch to the gut. No, they aren't just chickens. They are individual, unique lives that in my eyes are sacred, and bring something special to the world while they are here. One day I hope to be a hardened homesteader, but I have a long ways to go. I get the sense that you too are a loving caretaker of your animals and I very much admire that. I know sometimes there is also such a thing as "tough love," which I must learn to use.

If it becomes clear it's time for my Easter, I may have to see if I can get her euthanized. I'm not sure I'm ready to have her be culled. That'll be another argument with the SO lol. Just checked on her, and of course, she's spry as ever out there (with a crop as empty as ever). So confusing. I'm hoping maybe she will regain her appetite once the antibiotic regimen is over (one more day), maybe it is hard on her stomach. Probably wishful thinking though.

Anyway, thank you again for your kind words. All the best for you and your feather family.

 

[333113]

Chickens have remarkable recuperative powers, so sometimes supportive care like you are providing is all they need. Other times it's not enough.

I let my chickens come to their natural end, and do the best I can for them right up to the end. Then I have no regrets.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Chickens have remarkable recuperative powers, so sometimes supportive care like you are providing is all they need. Other times it's not enough.

I let my chickens come to their natural end, and do the best I can for them right up to the end. Then I have no regrets.

I like that approach--I think that may be how I've been operating, at least so far. It's tough with the force-feeding. I'm wondering if she, by not eating, is making the choice not to carry on (and I'm prolonging the process for the poor thing), or if it's just that she's in pain and needs the supportive care for a while. If only our chickens could speak!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I'm sure you've already run the gambit of trying out every single treat and goodie she used to eat on her own, but on the off chance you haven't tried it, I thought I'd just mention my success with a difficult recovery with one of my red ladies, in case it does you any good. I had been tube feeding one particular hen for a while, and I cant help but think it's the same as we get after a bout of the stomach flu where your guts so empty and you know you should eat but really don't want to.. anyway, I usually don't have peaches on hand, no one but me in the house eats them, and just by chance I had been enjoying a rather ripe one before feeding my girl and set it on the tray to go to the compost when it became such a goopy, juicy mess I couldn't finish it. Long story short, I've never seen a chicken go buck wild for anything besides live mealworms with such ferocity let alone one with no appetite. After she willingly ate the rest of the peach I started mixing bits of ripe peach and chicken crumble and gradually she got back onto a regular feeding routine. My girls aren't huge fruit eaters, which it seems like it's just an oddity of my flock, so I was shocked at her response to the peach, but I thought I'd toss the suggestion out there in case it was any help like it was for my stubborn girl. She was riddled with reproductive issues as well, but she continued to eat until she passed. Small live mealworms were also fantastic incentives especially during molting, and I only offered small ones so they could get them down easier without the ruckus of trying to steal one another's bug. It's always horrible to see these personality packed little feathered individuals waste away, but it sounds like you're doing what you can to offer your girl the best quality of life possible. Only you will know when you can't do any more for her, that limit is different for everyone, and when that time comes she will have known the love and respect that many chickens don't ever experience, so I hope you can take comfort in that.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I'm sure you've already run the gambit of trying out every single treat and goodie she used to eat on her own, but on the off chance you haven't tried it, I thought I'd just mention my success with a difficult recovery with one of my red ladies, in case it does you any good. I had been tube feeding one particular hen for a while, and I cant help but think it's the same as we get after a bout of the stomach flu where your guts so empty and you know you should eat but really don't want to.. anyway, I usually don't have peaches on hand, no one but me in the house eats them, and just by chance I had been enjoying a rather ripe one before feeding my girl and set it on the tray to go to the compost when it became such a goopy, juicy mess I couldn't finish it. Long story short, I've never seen a chicken go buck wild for anything besides live mealworms with such ferocity let alone one with no appetite. After she willingly ate the rest of the peach I started mixing bits of ripe peach and chicken crumble and gradually she got back onto a regular feeding routine. My girls aren't huge fruit eaters, which it seems like it's just an oddity of my flock, so I was shocked at her response to the peach, but I thought I'd toss the suggestion out there in case it was any help like it was for my stubborn girl. She was riddled with reproductive issues as well, but she continued to eat until she passed. Small live mealworms were also fantastic incentives especially during molting, and I only offered small ones so they could get them down easier without the ruckus of trying to steal one another's bug. It's always horrible to see these personality packed little feathered individuals waste away, but it sounds like you're doing what you can to offer your girl the best quality of life possible. Only you will know when you can't do any more for her, that limit is different for everyone, and when that time comes she will have known the love and respect that many chickens don't ever experience, so I hope you can take comfort in that.

Thank you so much for the suggestions! I don't have super ripe peaches on hand, but I can get some (and will them to ripen quickly!). I will also try out live mealworms. She is only interested in our dried mealworms when the others are eating them--she does have a bit of a "monkey see, monkey do" attitude that I've been using to get her to eat (it just only happens fleetingly). I do notice she gets overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the other chickens eating that she sometimes goes from interest in food to apathy. On those occasions I bring her in to eat, but then she gets sad and lonely lol. Can't win.

I also want to thank you for the words of comfort--they mean a lot. I hope she feels the love/warmth at the heart of all the poking and prodding she's been enduring. I've been promising her, once the shots are over, the only time I'll be handling her is to give her belly rubs, which are her favorite.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Thank you so much for this. You are right that letting her carry on might end up being more painful for her (and others); and right in saying all the time and money put into her makes it even harder (such investment is only an indication of how much I care about her and want her to survive). In fact, the vet bills on this one ended up being a point of tension for a while with my SO--I don't regret it regardless of what happens, and ultimately he's been supportive, but it wasn't an easy thing to spend those resources on her.

Congrats on your first flock--I wish you and all 9 many happy years together. No matter how many times people tell you (and you tell yourself) you have to be prepared to lose some along the way, or make the difficult decision to cull them, it still hits like a punch to the gut. No, they aren't just chickens. They are individual, unique lives that in my eyes are sacred, and bring something special to the world while they are here. One day I hope to be a hardened homesteader, but I have a long ways to go. I get the sense that you too are a loving caretaker of your animals and I very much admire that. I know sometimes there is also such a thing as "tough love," which I must learn to use.

If it becomes clear it's time for my Easter, I may have to see if I can get her euthanized. I'm not sure I'm ready to have her be culled. That'll be another argument with the SO lol. Just checked on her, and of course, she's spry as ever out there (with a crop as empty as ever). So confusing. I'm hoping maybe she will regain her appetite once the antibiotic regimen is over (one more day), maybe it is hard on her stomach. Probably wishful thinking though.

Anyway, thank you again for your kind words. All the best for you and your feather family.

Thank you so much! You are so sweet and so awesome. I really hope your Easter turns things around! I wish y’all the best! Thank you so much

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Thank you so much for the suggestions! I don't have super ripe peaches on hand, but I can get some (and will them to ripen quickly!). I will also try out live mealworms. She is only interested in our dried mealworms when the others are eating them--she does have a bit of a "monkey see, monkey do" attitude that I've been using to get her to eat (it just only happens fleetingly). I do notice she gets overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the other chickens eating that she sometimes goes from interest in food to apathy. On those occasions I bring her in to eat, but then she gets sad and lonely lol. Can't win.

I also want to thank you for the words of comfort--they mean a lot. I hope she feels the love/warmth at the heart of all the poking and prodding she's been enduring. I've been promising her, once the shots are over, the only time I'll be handling her is to give her belly rubs, which are her favorite.

I don’t exactly remember everything you have said and I apologize for that but just wanted to mention this one thing also. Is she one of those that cannot stand to be away from the flock? I have three that absolutely go apeshit if they can’t see the rest of the nine. Excuse my French it’s just that they are the only three that do it. They are my Orpingtons. The Flower Hens and Legbars don’t act that way. I just wondered if you were having to keep her separated from the flock a great deal and that might be making her depressed? Maybe if she was eating as much as possible with them- just in case she already wasn’t only?

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I don’t exactly remember everything you have said and I apologize for that but just wanted to mention this one thing also. Is she one of those that cannot stand to be away from the flock? I have three that absolutely go apeshit if they can’t see the rest of the nine. Excuse my French it’s just that they are the only three that do it. They are my Orpingtons. The Flower Hens and Legbars don’t act that way. I just wondered if you were having to keep her separated from the flock a great deal and that might be making her depressed? Maybe if she was eating as much as possible with them- just in case she already wasn’t only?

Yes, she loves being a part of the brat pack. She is a real groupie lol, and perhaps doesn't want to give up her spot as biggest brat.

We initially had her isolated for a few days, but I ended up putting her out with her girls to see if she'd perk up. The result? She perked up but still didn't eat enough. Now I'm doing a hybrid system where she spends the meat of the day out there after I've been sure to get something in her crop at the beginning and end of the day. At night, I take her in to sleep and bring her best buddy in, too, for a slumber party. With this model I've had the most success both ensuring she eats enough, doesn't get too depressed, but still has r&r time (and time for her to monitor poops and behavior and such). I think she wants so badly to be a part of things and maintain her place that she exhausts herself a bit out there.

Thank you again, for helping bounce ideas off me and in general being a kind and supportive person (like tolerating extremely long replies to your posts).

P.S. happy to report she is in and heartily eating a soft boiled egg more than I've seen her eat on her own in a while. I remain cautiously optimistic. (With my luck, tomorrow she will decide she is offended by the mere sight of an egg).