Serama on deaths door; mimicking eggbound

Landerb

Chirping
Jan 5, 2021
22
22
84
Corpus Christi, TX
Hello all,

Newish chicken owner & first time poster. I’ve found so much help on this site just by reading the threads, but I’m at my wit’s end and am desperate. I have a 6 month old serama frizzle who laid her first eggs on Saturday. I know chickens don’t usually lay two eggs in a day, but I know she did at some point bc she laid 3 (the last was soft shelled) in a 48 hr period. Since then, she hasn’t laid and has shown all the signs of being eggbound— thrusting her butt, pulsating vent, lethargy, trouble standing, sitting a lot, penguin walking, barely eating or drinking, and spending all day in the nesting box.

We began isolating her Saturday. When I woke up Monday morning, I found her underside hard, caked with the poop and “pee” she had been sitting in all night. I closed her in the coop alone yesterday during the day, hoping maybe she’d lay on her own. Last night when I got home from work around 5:30, she was STILL in the nesting box, though, so I knew it was getting bad. I took her inside & gave her a warm epson soak bath for 15 minutes, lubed her vent, and gave her 1 cc of liquid calcium. I couldn’t feel the egg, but she was sensitive around the area and she’s so little and super fluffy, so it’s hard to tell.

This AM she looked even worse— more droopy, hadn’t eaten or pooped (last poop, which was normal) was around 5:30pm last night), so I rushed her to our local vet. I was convinced she was eggbound, but he said no. She’s not dehydrated. He started her on oral speclinx 50 & told me to keep hand feeding her and giving her syringes of water.

But she’s getting worse. And the more research I do, the more I think he misdiagnosed her. Idk. Could she possibly be eggbound before the egg got it’s hard shell? Or hypocalcemia? We messed up and didn’t start her on calcium before she started laying, so that’s my main concern. How do Her eyes are still alert and she cocks her head and looks around, but it’s like she can’t hold up her own head.

I feel like I’m running out of time to save my girl. 😫 I have injectable tylan and injectable calcium gluconate. Should I try either of those?
@dawg53 and @TwoCrows — your advice on here has saved me so many times, I’m hoping you can help me out again now. I need a Hail Mary. Please help me save my baby🙏🏼😫
 
I am so sorry your girl is suffering. :hugs If you can't feel an egg with your gloved index finger within the first 1 1/2 to 2 inches, she is not egg bound. The Shell Gland or Uterus is about 2+inches back. But she could have an oviduct infection or possibly be internally laying. Seems like every bird I have ever had that layed more than 1 egg/yolk a day, yolks or eggs off the roost bar at night, ended up internally laying. And you can't fix an internal layer either. But this could still be just an oviduct infection.

I have found that Amoxicillin knocks either these infections out fast. If this is internal laying, at first the antibiotics will help, but as she continues to internally lay, you can't keep up with the infections or the ascites. If it's a simple oviduct infection, she should heal with treatment.

You can get either the capsules or the powder to put in the water at Twin City Poultry...
https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1196

https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=77

I am a fan of capsulated meds, I put the dosage into 1 ml Gerber baby food and squeeze under the tongue with a syringe. I then know they are getting the exact amount of meds. But you can use the water method along as she is drinking, it's your choice.
 
I would continue with warm water soaks up to her sides for 20 or 30 minutes, no epsom salts needed. While she's soaking, massage her underside front to rear. The warm water will help expand her innards and will relax her. The massaging will encourage her to move the egg along. Then wear a disposable glove and put a little olive oil or vegetable oil inside her vent. It will make it easier for her to lay the egg. Repeat this procedure as necessary. After soaking several times, it would be best to consider TwoCrows advice regarding Amoxicillin.
 
I am so sorry your girl is suffering. :hugs If you can't feel an egg with your gloved index finger within the first 1 1/2 to 2 inches, she is not egg bound. The Shell Gland or Uterus is about 2+inches back. But she could have an oviduct infection or possibly be internally laying. Seems like every bird I have ever had that layed more than 1 egg/yolk a day, yolks or eggs off the roost bar at night, ended up internally laying. And you can't fix an internal layer either. But this could still be just an oviduct infection.

I have found that Amoxicillin knocks either these infections out fast. If this is internal laying, at first the antibiotics will help, but as she continues to internally lay, you can't keep up with the infections or the ascites. If it's a simple oviduct infection, she should heal with treatment.

You can get either the capsules or the powder to put in the water at Twin City Poultry...
https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1196

https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=77

I am a fan of capsulated meds, I put the dosage into 1 ml Gerber baby food and squeeze under the tongue with a syringe. I then know they are getting the exact amount of meds. But you can use the water method along as she is drinking, it's your choice.

thank you! It looks like it may take a few days for it to get here. 😕 do you have any suggestions for my girl in the meantime? This is probably a dumb question, but if I have leftover amoxicillin that was prescribed to me, could I give her that? Or is there a more readily available alternative?
 
thank you! It looks like it may take a few days for it to get here. 😕 do you have any suggestions for my girl in the meantime? This is probably a dumb question, but if I have leftover amoxicillin that was prescribed to me, could I give her that? Or is there a more readily available alternative?
Human amoxicillin works fine. Dosage here (weigh your bird first): http://www.poultrydvm.com/drugs/amoxicillin
 
thank you! It looks like it may take a few days for it to get here. 😕 do you have any suggestions for my girl in the meantime? This is probably a dumb question, but if I have leftover amoxicillin that was prescribed to me, could I give her that? Or is there a more readily available alternative?
Yes you can use the human stuff! For a 5 pound bird, you can use a 250 mg capsule 2 to 3 times daily. If she is really bad, I would use it 3 times a day. 500mg to 750mg a day will surfice for a bird around 5-6 pounds.
 
Yes you can use the human stuff! For a 5 pound bird, you can use a 250 mg capsule 2 to 3 times daily. If she is really bad, I would use it 3 times a day. 500mg to 750mg a day will surfice for a bird around 5-6 pounds.
Thank you! Is there any benefit to continuing with the warm baths if it’s EYP or an internal layer?
 

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