Possible EYP

[susan1981]

I recently gave my chicken away to someone. We did have 2 chickens, one died (the vet thought a tumor) back in October time, so we had to have her put to sleep. We aren't going to get any more chickens, so we made sure that our remaining one got lots of free run time in the garden, but then a fox started coming into our garden and so I wasn't letting her out as often because I'd rather she was stuck in her cage (it does have a little bit of a run) than run the risk of her getting eaten by a fox. Still, she did get a lot of outdoor time, but then my sister in law said she works with someone who adores chickens and has 10, and this lady offered to re-home her.

To be fair, I don't know a lot about chickens. This chicken is around 4 years old, but she stopped laying eggs last summer. She was never a great layer, although did lay, but when she stopped, at first, I thought it was because it was getting colder, but once it started warming up, I just assumed that she'd come to the end of her egg laying days, either that or she was lonely. She always seemed fine though, and we have 3 cats, which she seems to like, so I wondered if they helped with the loneliness, plus with the warmer weather, I've been in the garden a lot with her. My children were also out there a lot with her. She's always full of energy, eating, drinking, and didn't appear to be losing any weight.

So when this lady took the chicken, she has a lot of experience with chickens, she told me that the chicken felt a little warm and her abdomen felt a bit swollen. It has been quite hot here recently. She said she was concerned, even though she still seems quite lively, so took her to the vets as she was worried it was EYP. Where I live, I don't think we have many specialist bird vets. Not many people have chickens as pets where I live, but the vet did agree that it could be EYP. The vet has prescribed her with some antibiotics, and also mentioned that she could have an implant, but this only lasts a short while and it's £150, which is a lot of money.

So I just wondered, how long can a chicken survive for with EYP? Is it fatal? I'm just curious because considering she hasn't been laying eggs for quite a while now, I've never noticed any issues with her. She's bright, alert, her comb is nice and red and standing up, she's eating, she's drinking. So I'm just wondering if this could be EYP?

 

[Eggcessive]

If she is lively and doing well, she may instead be an internal layer, or have one of the other numerous reproductive disorders, such as salpingitis, impacted oviduct, or ascites. EYP has similar symptoms, but there is a lot of infection. All of these are fatal, but that is what most hens die of eventually. I would not spend that kind of money on hormone implants, although some will try anything. I would just take good care of her, try the antibiotics, and when she satrts to separate herself and feel bad, then consider putting her down. Any chicken over 2 may start having signs of reproductive problems. Here is some reading that explains some of these conditions:
http://www.regenbiocorps.com/index.php/poultry-diseases/17-disorders-of-reproductive-systems
http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/backyard-poultry/egg-yolk-peritonitis/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This chicken is around 4 years old, but she stopped laying eggs last summer. She was never a great layer, although did lay, but when she stopped, at first, I thought it was because it was getting colder, but once it started warming up, I just assumed that she'd come to the end of her egg laying days

she told me that the chicken felt a little warm and her abdomen felt a bit swollen. It has been quite hot here recently. She said she was concerned, even though she still seems quite lively, so took her to the vets as she was worried it was EYP.

vet did agree that it could be EYP. The vet has prescribed her with some antibiotics, and also mentioned that she could have an implant, but this only lasts a short while and it's £150, which is a lot of money.

how long can a chicken survive for with EYP? Is it fatal? I'm just curious because considering she hasn't been laying eggs for quite a while now...She's bright, alert, her comb is nice and red and standing up, she's eating, she's drinking

Not laying eggs for a long time and swelling of the abdomen, to me would indicate a reproductive disorder. It could be EYP. Some hens are able to re-absorb yolks that have been deposited into the abdomen or their body forms layers of (for lack of better word) pus around the yolks. Overtime, that can start to build up causing a swollen belly.
There is no timeline with internal laying-it affects each hen differently. Some continue to be bright within themselves until one day they just decline sharply and that's it.

I'm not sure what your goals are here. Is the lady wanting to take her, are you going to keep her, is she a pet, etc.?

The implant is an option if she is a pet and you have extra money you want to spend on her. But an implant is not a cure. Otherwise, as long as she is eating/drinking and active, I would leave her be. The antibiotics may help with infection, but if she has a reproductive problem, at some point down the road it will take her.

 

[susan1981]

No, this lady is going to keep her. I'm just obviously a little bit concerned for her as we had her for 3-4 years. So I'm hoping that the vet is wrong. I was just wondering how soon they could show signs of EYP. She was our pet, but she's now this lady's pet. She loves chickens, and at least she can be with other chickens with her new owner.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No, this lady is going to keep her. I'm just obviously a little bit concerned for her as we had her for 3-4 years. So I'm hoping that the vet is wrong. I was just wondering how soon they could show signs of EYP. She was our pet, but she's now this lady's pet. She loves chickens, and at least she can be with other chickens with her new owner.

I see, I may have read your post wrong.

I understand your concern. To answer your question internal laying can happen at any age. Some hens can keep going for a long time, but eventually they succumb to illness.

It must have been difficult to let her go, but it's good that your hen will be with other chickens. It sounds like she is doing o.k. and has a new owner that will care about her like you did.