PLS HELP!! MY SWEETIE GIRL ISN'T ACTING RIGHT!!

[mworthington]

Henrietta (lol) is not acting like herself! She's usually very lively, glad to see you even dances around your legs. Rhode Island

The last couple of days she's "lazy" won't walk very far and is sloooow when she does. Just lays down with her tail feathers in the air. Does appear to me double her normal size.....When I checked on her this morning she was panting like a dog.

I just lost a Buff Orphington to the same symptoms yesterday morning.

I'm very new to raising birds, these gals are only 2 yrs. old. We have had some very large eggs lately...? Could she be egg bound?

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated, I don't want to loose my sweet heart!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. I would put on a rubber glove and poke a finger inside her vent 1-2 inches to feel for a stuck egg. Some causes of egg binding may be a lack of calcium or dehydration. Egg yolk peritonitis and internal laying can be common starting about that age. Has she been laying recently? If she hasn't been wormed recently, I would worm her right away with Valbazen or SafeGuard liquid goat wormer. Have you had any coccidiosis in the flock? Coccidiosis is contagious, and symptoms are lethargy, weakness, puffing up, diarrhea, and poor appetite. Treatment is Corid (amprollium) in the water for 5-7 days. Check to see that she has no signs of lice or mites on her skin. Here are some links for you to read:
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/poultry/coccidiosis/overview_of_coccidiosis_in_poultry.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms.html
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/tag/laying-issues/