Possible reproductive disorder?

[selenaapril]

Hi BYC
I posted earlier about my three year old bantam chicken being eggbound however I was told that she might actually have a reproductive disorder. For a couple of days she’s been waddling around, dragging her tail and she can’t stand up correctly. She uses her wings to stabilize her but she can’t balance. She waddles around for a bit but then stops and closes her eyes and drops her head. She’s been eating and drinking just fine and her stool is fine as well. Her crop felt more firm than puffy. I put some crushed up calcium tablets into her food and gave her an epsom salt bath yesterday. I’ve tried everything I could think of to help her get better but she seems to be getting worse. Is there anything else I can do to help her get better or is there a way I can make her more comfortable. She’s like family to me and it hurts to see her this way. Anything helps, thank you!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Have you checked for an egg bound egg? Lubricate your finger will and insert it in her vent about an inch or so........

 

[selenaapril]

Have you checked for an egg bound egg? Lubricate your finger will and insert it in her vent about an inch or so........

I did that earlier today and didn’t find anything.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Let me reach out to members that could be a help in this situation. Good luck!
@casportpony @azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[selenaapril]

Let me reach out to members that could be a help in this situation. Good luck!
@casportpony @azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

Thank you so much!

 

[staceyj]

I just saw your other thread.
Her posture says she’s miserable for sure
And what I can see if her comb shows me her color isn’t good.
Could you show me her face?
Does her lower tummy( the place between her legs feel big?”

Has she had any problems in the past laying...Such as lash eggs, shell-less eggs etc.

Do they eat layer feed?
Have oyster shell available?

And did you give a big dose of calcium?

@Wyorp Rock
@Eggcessive
@WVduckchick
@casportpony

 

[selenaapril]

I just saw your other thread.
Her posture says she’s miserable for sure
And what I can see if her comb shows me her color isn’t good.
Could you show me her face?
Does her lower tummy( the place between her legs feel big?”

Has she had any problems in the past laying...Such as lash eggs, shell-less eggs etc.

Do they eat layer feed?
Have oyster shell available?

And did you give a big dose of calcium?

@Wyorp Rock
@Eggcessive
@WVduckchick
@casportpony

 

[selenaapril]

Her lower stomach is puffed out, she looks bloated. She’s never had a problem with laying, she used to lay eggs every day. I feed her layena crumbles as feed, unfortunately I don’t have any oyster shells available. I crushed up some calcium tablets and put them in her food and she ate it.

 

[Eggcessive]

How long ago did she last lay an egg? As I had posted in your other thread, from her symptoms and appearance, I would suspect a reproductive disorder. It is an unfortunate, but a common problem in hens. Salpingitis, internal laying, egg yolk peritonitis, ascites and oviduct cancer are some of the common ones. A year ago between Christmas and New Years during a cold snap, I lost 4 older hens to each one or a couple of those illnesses, and I confirmed it with a necropsy at home. It is never easy to deal with, and what I do is to try and keep them eating, and as comfortable as possible. Usually, they like to be with their flock as much as possible, so I let them until they start to be picked on. If they are picked on or appear to be suffering, then I put them down. Sorry about your hen, and I would try to see a vet if possible, or try antibiotics.

 

[Eggcessive]

If her lower belly becomes very tight, she could have ascites or water belly, which is sometimes related to reproductive disorders, and also seen in liver and heart failure. Some try to remove some of the excess fluid to relieve pressure and pain, and to ease breathing.

Here are some articles to familiarize yourself with some of these problems:

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/internal-layer

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx

http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/backyard-poultry/egg-yolk-peritonitis/