My girl has a swollen abdomen.

[Almichfarmgirl]

My hen has a very swollen abdomen. Walks like a penguin. Has been eating and drinking. We isolated her from the others. Anyone here about e coli infections causing salpingitis in chickens? Any advice??? Hoping against hope.

 

[Pathfinders]

Swollen abdomen does not necessarily mean ecoli. In fact, I'd more likely think egg bound, or acites.

Has she been laying?

 

[Almichfarmgirl]

No she has not. She has a cheesy white/green discharge from her cloaca. We started tetracycline in her water. What do you think?

 

[Pathfinders]

I think tetracycline is a not terribly effective antibiotic. I know it's easily available at the feed store, but I am not convinced it works well for poultry.

I also don't know that a discharge like that is indicative of a bacterial infection.

It's possible she is egg bound. There are a number of good threads here about egg bound treatment, try this one for a start: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/649595/egg-bound

Bottom line, I would try giving her a warm bath to see if that allows her to relax enough to pass an egg, and I would boost the calcium in her system, which can help as well. Does she have access to oyster shell free choice? You can always crush up a Tums and put it in some yogurt to get some extra calcium into her.

 

[Judy]

Please understand this can only be guesswork. I agree, I'd definitely try approaching it as eggbound, though the discharge indicates that even if she is, there is something else going on. I would suggest reading up on internal laying and vent gleet.

I would probably finish the antibiotic you have started and give the baths, etc. for eggbound. Then I'd treat aggressively with a good probiotic to restore gut flora after the antibiotic, and also because she could have had a problem with that even before the antibiotic (see vent gleet.) I might try some human external cream for yeast, or I might try to get some Nystatin or equivalent, which is prescription, I believe; it is given orally and treats yeast infection . (It is what is given people for thrush in the mouth.)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/79443/tell-me-about-your-internal-layers/80_20#post_6235380 (see esp. post 92)

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

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/796143/is-this-vent-gleet/0_20#post_11482574

 

[casportpony]

You can buy anti-fungals like Nystatin or Fluconazole OTC very easily.

Nystatin (Medistatin)
http://www.jedds.com/-strse-651/MEDISTATIN-100-g-(Medpet)/Detail.bok

Fluconazole
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trk...A0.Xfluco&_nkw=fluconazole&_sacat=0&_from=R40

If you live in Canada you can buy fluconazole at any pharmacy as Canesoral.

-Kathy

 

[Almichfarmgirl]

Thank you! I am unavailable at the moment to take other actions. I will try what you have advised. I didn't think that chickens liked to take baths. How will she react?

 

[Pathfinders]

Actually, if she is eggbound, a warm bath will be extremely soothing to her (once she gets into it) and she may well sigh with relief!

 

[casportpony]

It's very easy to check for a stuck egg... Put on glove, lube finger and gently check inside vent. If she has an egg you'll be able to feel it, just have a look at some chicken anatomy pictures beforehand. If no egg, no point in giving bath. If egg, give human calcium pill, bath, too, that will help.

-Kathy

 

[Almichfarmgirl]

Thanks for the advice. Going to the barn when I get. By the way, I am a newbie and this sight is great. Thanks for all the help. I will keep you posted.