Penguin Stance

[Canine and Co]

Hi all, I am looking for advice from anyone who has experienced a hen with Egg Yolk Peritionitis.

Background -

Blondie is around 4/5 years old and she stopped laying about 2 months ago. She went quite weak about the time she stopped laying (She wasn't egg bound - I checked that first) and after a few days of antibiotics she perked up and went back to normal (minus laying). Then about 4 weeks ago she seemed to develop signs of egg peritonitis - mainly swollen balloon like belly/walking like a penguin. I drained her belly of some of this liquid which was yellow in colour. Her poop was also green and yellow and runny and her vent area was messy. The day after draining her belly she was back to her usual self. However this didn't last with her belly swelling and penguin stance back (we attempted to drain some more liquid a week later - but couldn't draw any). Anyhow for the last two weeks, her poop has been back to normal ie no longer runny. In herself - she is normal - she eats and she drinks and is alert. Her comb and wattle are a nice red colour. She doesn't seem in pain and gets on with her day - eating some grass and having a wander (obviously I seperated her when she became ill and although she can see the others - she has her own large area).

I have started to try a herbal diuretic over the last couple of days - I am not sure it will help - but it won't harm to try. I also have given her a Poultry tonic. In terms of food, I am giving her anything she fancies and have removed layers pellets from her diet. So basically she has corn, mealworms, blueberries, apples, plums, banana and little bit of bread in water etc (plus grass etc when she free ranges). She has a healthy appetite, but her chest bone feels very prominent, and she is pooping normally, so other than her stomach/not being able to walk easily and using her wings for balance (and she prefers to lean up to something) - she seems quite happy.

So my question after all this - is there anything I can do to help her be as comfortable as possible in the circumstances (I don't want to put her through an operation) or has anyone had any success with any treatment of any sort or found anything natural/ medicinal that helps?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Picture attached shows Blondie about 10 days ago. I can get a more recent pic tomorrow. She is probably more penguin like now. Thank you again.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

In terms of food, I am giving her anything she fancies and have removed layers pellets from her diet. So basically she has corn, mealworms, blueberries, apples, plums, banana and little bit of bread in water etc (plus grass etc when she free ranges). She has a healthy appetite, but her chest bone feels very prominent, and she is pooping normally, so other than her stomach/not being able to walk easily and using her wings for balance (and she prefers to lean up to something) - she seems quite happy.

So my question after all this - is there anything I can do to help her be as comfortable as possible in the circumstances (I don't want to put her through an operation) or has anyone had any success with any treatment of any sort or found anything natural/ medicinal that helps?

I'm sorry your having trouble.
I would provide her with a nutritionally balanced poultry feed, whether it's layer feed or an all flock/flock raiser or chick feed. While the corn, mealworms, etc are great treats, if she's having swelling of the abdomen then her gaining fat won't help with the condition.

Sadly, I have never found a cure for birds suffering reproductive problems. I do offer supportive care by giving vitamins, check that their crop is emptying, looking them over for lice/mites regularly and just keeping watch on how they do from day to day. If I notice them struggling, I see if they might rally with a vitamin boost, etc. and often they perk back up for a while. I've had some going for a good while, others have declined again and I ended their suffering.
It really stinks. I do know that it's common in laying hens and I've opened mine up to investigate further. Once you see what's happening, you realize there was nothing else you could have done, but it's still sad.


@coach723 uses a detox as supportive care
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-breath-if-you-hold-her.1284253/post-20750855

 

[Canine and Co]

Thank you @Wyorp Rock - all makes sense. Such a shame there is no cure :-( wish I could wave a magic wand.

Quicky question (may be a stupid question) but would layers pellets encourage her body to lay eggs (which would be internally in her case?). I have given her some and she ate them straight away.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you @Wyorp Rock - all makes sense. Such a shame there is no cure :-( wish I could wave a magic wand.

Quicky question (may be a stupid question) but would layers pellets encourage her body to lay eggs (which would be internally in her case?). I have given her some and she ate them straight away.

No, the layer pellets wouldn't necessarily encourage her to lay. Over time if she is not laying eggs, the amount of calcium she gets from the pellets may be too much.
The biggest difference between layer pellets and something like an all flock feed is Protein % and Calcium %.

I agree with you. It is really a shame and oh how I do wish there was "something" that could be done. I have not found it yet, but if I ever do I will tell the whole world!