Salpingitis advice please

[Alexandra1988]

Hoping for some advice as I've not encountered this before. I have 4 hens, 2 of which are around 2.5 years old and the others maybe 1.5. They've all stopped laying at present as they are in moult but I noticed what I now know to be a lash egg in the coop two mornings in a row. I know from Google this is salpingitis but I don't know which chicken it is as they all seem perfectly healthy and running about as usual. I would suspect the older two but who knows! What I wanted some guidance on was firstly how to tell which chicken it is, and if she recovers,is she likely to lay again, and secondly when I start getting eggs again are they safe to eat? I suppose I can't guarantee they haven't come from the infected chicken or that the others arent infected as well.

 

[Eggcessive]

The future eggs would be fine to eat, but the hen may not lay well or any later on. Each case is different, and depends on how long she has had salpingitis. Some signs to look for are lethargy, a lowered tail, some times a messy vent, preferring to sit around or separate herself, and some may develop an enlarged lower abdomen below the vent. Crop disorders due to increased pressure may also occur. Some people use antibiotics such as amoxicillin or enrofloxacin early in salpingitis, and those may or may not help once lash eggs are passed. Here is some reading:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/

 

[Alexandra1988]

That's great thank you. Google suggests it's always fatal and they'll never lay again which I'm not fussed about, I'd just rather she didn't die horribly, whichever it is. If they had active salpingitis would that prevent them from laying at all, so if she laid that would mean she's clear?

 

[Eggcessive]

Some lay eggs and most of the time we don’t realize they have salpingitis until we see a lash egg or they have a swollen firm lower abdomen. Salpingitis is fatal, but it may take a couple of years, or it could happen sooner. It is one of the most common diseases that hens get aside from cancer.

 

[Alexandra1988]

Thank you, been feeling quite guilty about it although I'm not sure how I could prevent it as I feed them well and keep them clean etc.

 

[Perris]

Thank you, been feeling quite guilty about it although I'm not sure how I could prevent it as I feed them well and keep them clean etc.

It's not your fault; salpingitis is not caused by feed or keeping conditions, so there is no reason to feel guilty if one of your hens develops it. The infection is internal to her, and if

I don't know which chicken it is as they all seem perfectly healthy and running about as usual

then she might be able to live well for as long as any other in your flock. I have one who's living life to the full despite the fact she's been passing lash eggs for >6 months now.