Old girl has laid a lash egg

[Aussiechickener]

So hopefully this is my final update. My girl is doing well. After a final checkup they have determined she has no traces of infection and has not retained any more fluid. I've been given the all clear but have been told to keep an eye on her as this kind of thing has a habit of resurfacing over the years, especially if she starts laying again once the implant wears off.

Thank you all so much for your support and I hope this helps other older chicken owners. I've been told by the vet it's best to give implants to older chickens which appear to be coming to the end of their laying to help prevent too much stress. I know not everyone is so attached to their chickens and would prefer not to put so much effort and money into a chicken but I will definitely be considering the option in the future as my girls age.

 

[aart]

Curious how did they test her for infection?
What antibiotic did they give her?
Was this an avian vet?

 

[Aussiechickener]

Curious how did they test her for infection?
What antibiotic did they give her?
Was this an avian vet?

I see a specialist vet that specialises in exotic animals including poultry. If anyone around the Brisbane, QLD area needs a good small animal vet I recommend Brisbane birds and exotics veterinary services (BBEVS) they have been amazing this last year for treating my chickens and they always seem to have a lot of clients which is great. Plus they also treat other small animals including reptiles and amphibians. They can be a bit on the expensive side since they are specialists but I'm willing to pay the difference for better care.
I believe she was tested using swabs and stains, and was drained of excess fluid using a catheter. The implant she was given is inserted using a needle between the wings.
I have misplaced the packaging so I can't give you specifics but she was treated using an amoxicillin variant. I'm not worried about using the eggs since she doesn't lay but I wouldn't suggest this if you want to eat the eggs without waiting at least a couple months after medicating. Obviously its best to consult a vet before giving medicine anyway.

 

[ackie]

I'm very curious about the implant if you have any info. How expensive was it? though I'm sure the cost of something in Aus has nothing to do with the cost of it in the States lol.

 

[Aussiechickener]

I'm very curious about the implant if you have any info. How expensive was it? though I'm sure the cost of something in Aus has nothing to do with the cost of it in the States lol.

The hormone implant basically stops egg production for up to 6 months.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/cases/titch
https://opensanctuary.org/article/s...cken-health/#what-is-the-cost-of-implantation
These articles/blogs goes into some detail about how it works, why it might be used, and what to expect. The second one mentions cost a bit but its very nonspecific. It's probably not good as a long term solution but for those close to end of lay it certainly helps.
I'm unsure of the cost in America but over here the implant itself + implantation cost about $175 AUD ($130 USD). I know not everyone is comfortable with this cost but I think its pretty reasonable.

 

[coach723]

Thank you for the update, I'm glad you have vet that knows something about birds, and I do hope this one has a happy ending.
@jwehl , my guess is that the implant is Suprelorin or the equivalent. There are some threads on here that discuss cost in the US, probably you can search for those. For most birds it needs to be replaced periodically to ensure they don't lay again, if that is the goal.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/drugs/deslorelin

 

[ackie]

The hormone implant basically stops egg production for up to 6 months.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/cases/titch
https://opensanctuary.org/article/s...cken-health/#what-is-the-cost-of-implantation
These articles/blogs goes into some detail about how it works, why it might be used, and what to expect. The second one mentions cost a bit but its very nonspecific. It's probably not good as a long term solution but for those close to end of lay it certainly helps.
I'm unsure of the cost in America but over here the implant itself + implantation cost about $175 AUD ($130 USD). I know not everyone is comfortable with this cost but I think its pretty reasonable.

Thanks for the info! With something that specialized, I figured they could pretty much charge whatever they wanted.