Sick peahen won't eat or drink and is very lethargic...

[CrazyBirdLady7]

Does anyone out there suspect anything other than a parasite issue? Like egg peritonitis? She will be 2 years in July and has never laid....
Would like to rule that one out. No yolk in poop, just white mucus....sometimes slight yellow hue but not at all like a raw egg yolk...

 

[DylansMom]

Does anyone out there suspect anything other than a parasite issue? Like egg peritonitis? She will be 2 years in July and has never laid....
Would like to rule that one out. No yolk in poop, just white mucus....sometimes slight yellow hue but not at all like a raw egg yolk...

Does she stand anything like this? If she is having trouble with an egg, she could look like this, she could also lose the ability to use her legs.


She is definitely old enough to lay, I have 2 purple hens who will be 2 in July as well and both are laying right now.

 

[CrazyBirdLady7]

Her stance does resemble the picture you posted, but she hasn't had any trouble with her legs. In fact, she jumped up on to the table today for the first time in 3 days. Is there a way for me to examine her to see if she's about ready to lay? Would I be able to actually feel eggs in her? I've never really felt around her nether regions much so not sure I would know what to feel for...
She is perking up quite a bit. She actually ate two wax worms (her fave) on her own this morning. She's starting to act more like herself again
Thanks for all of your help!

 

[DylansMom]

Her stance does resemble the picture you posted, but she hasn't had any trouble with her legs. In fact, she jumped up on to the table today for the first time in 3 days. Is there a way for me to examine her to see if she's about ready to lay? Would I be able to actually feel eggs in her? I've never really felt around her nether regions much so not sure I would know what to feel for...
She is perking up quite a bit. She actually ate two wax worms (her fave) on her own this morning. She's starting to act more like herself again
Thanks for all of your help!

If she seems to be improving I would just watch her closely, if she starts to stand like that a lot or has trouble with her legs, you can do a vent check for an egg. You will need a latex glove, and KY, gentle insertion of your lubed index finger to about half an inch and that is where you should feel it. I had to do one myself this morning and the egg was very easy to feel.

 

[CrazyBirdLady7]

I will! Thanks for the info

 

[CrazyBirdLady7]

This task was harder than expected cuz she kept clenching and I didn't want to hurt her but I was able to get in there about a half inch and didn't feel anything. I don't feel anything from the outside either. I did notice when I rub her underside, she wants to lay down. She seems to be improving little by little every day. She has a lot more energy now even though she hasn't eaten or drank much. she even perched up on her roost for the first time in 3 days. She took a gulp of water on her own this morning. I'm hoping she's on the mend but don't want to ignore any potential laying issue. I read a post about a peahen her age that displayed similar behavior and she died from a laying issue that when un-noticed for several months.
Should I take her to the vet for xrays or should I wait a bit longer to give her a chance to lay some eggs? Just don't want to wait too long and have a small issue turn into a deadly one. I know I'm probably worrying too much but I just love my sweet little Paisley so much!

 

[casportpony]

This task was harder than expected cuz she kept clenching and I didn't want to hurt her but I was able to get in there about a half inch and didn't feel anything. I don't feel anything from the outside either. I did notice when I rub her underside, she wants to lay down. She seems to be improving little by little every day. She has a lot more energy now even though she hasn't eaten or drank much. she even perched up on her roost for the first time in 3 days. She took a gulp of water on her own this morning. I'm hoping she's on the mend but don't want to ignore any potential laying issue. I read a post about a peahen her age that displayed similar behavior and she died from a laying issue that when un-noticed for several months.
Should I take her to the vet for xrays or should I wait a bit longer to give her a chance to lay some eggs? Just don't want to wait too long and have a small issue turn into a deadly one. I know I'm probably worrying too much but I just love my sweet little Paisley so much!

If you can take her to a vet, do it! Your vet can advise you on how best to hydrate her and feed her as well as check her poop for coccidia, worm eggs, bacteria and yeast.

Have you weighed her?

-Kathy

 

[CrazyBirdLady7]

Have not weighed her but will tonight.
I'm calling the vet now to schedule an appt.
If she's starting to act normal, is there any reason I should take her in for an emergency visit or can I get in early next week?

 

[casportpony]

Have not weighed her but will tonight.
I'm calling the vet now to schedule an appt.
If she's starting to act normal, is there any reason I should take her in for an emergency visit or can I get in early next week?

I would try to get her in sooner rather than later, but that's just me, and my vet doesn't charge an emergency fee.

-Kathy

 

[CrazyBirdLady7]

I have an appointment on Tuesday night with a new vet but having second thoughts as Paisley is back to normal, eating sweet potato fries, drinking, pecking around outside, no weird head shaking.
She is no longer having the white mucus like poop but now it looks like this (see pics). Should I be concerned? Should I still take her just for a check up? The hardest thing is going to be finding a pet carrier and then getting her in it without hurting her or freaking her out cuz she has never been confined....