Thought she was egg bound, now I'm not so sure

[3speckled3]

Hi there. I am concerned the mass that feels like egg could be lash egg material, which would be indicative of salpingitis. Can you post a photo of her body language? Last summer J had a hen who seemed to be in a fair amount of pain, and the general consensus was that it was an oviduct infection. She recovered with a two-week course of amoxicillin.

I know you came here for help and don’t want to criticize, but I would like for you to be aware that the diet is a big concern, as indicated by other BYC members. This may or may not be the root of her problem. My recommendation would be to move forward and change the diet as soon as you can by switching to a balanced crumble or pellet. In the mean time, adding protein treats (egg, tuna, etc.) would be good. Greens like chopped kale and/or fresh sprouts are nutritious, too. Is the oyster shell always available free choice, meaning available all the time in its own separate dish? Good luck and please keep us posted.

Thank you for concern. I do plan on heading to Tractor Supply and buying some new feed for my chickens. Yesterday I managed to get her to eat some apple and some eggs, but she still lacks an appetite, so it wasn't too much.
As for the picture, this is the best one I could catch of her. This is how she immediately reacts when I leave her alone

 

[Eggcessive]

She might benefit from antibiotics to make her feel a little better, although if she has salpingitis or a reproductive infection, they may not help. The most common antibiotics for this would be Baytril or amoxicillin. Most antibiotics are not aprroved for poultry due to their being egg residue for several weeks after use. If you are interested, I could give you info on where to buy them online, since most are not sold in stores any more without a prescription. Many use this at a dosage of 0.1 ml twice a day for 5 days for a silkie.
https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10

Here is some reading about salpingitis and lash egg material:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/134/salpingitis/

 

[chickenchaser10]

Are any of your other birds exhibiting symptoms? It is very very hard to get a sick bird to eat and drink on their own. My other non egg bound bird that suffered coccidia at the same time didn’t open her eyes for like 5 days! I syringe fed her the entire way through. Please just be patient. Please keep her hydrated with a pedialite in a syringe. Drip it on the tip of her beak and let it roll to her mouth. Hydration is key for any curable infection. Consider feeding nutrient dense foods like oatmeal and applesauce with the pedialite. I would stay away from yogurt and dairy products until her poop looks better. Keep in mind that antibiotics will also cause Dhiarrrea. Yet again keep her hydrated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thanks for the advice! I do not have any yogurt at the moment, but I will pick some up as soon as I can tomorrow. I will also check out some new feed for my chickens. I only want the best for them!

Just give her about a spoonful. Too much may cause problems, but the live cultures have good probiotics to get the gut bacteria back in shape. Poultry vitamins or 1/4 tablet of vitamin B complex crushed onto her food might help her appetite. Egg, tuna, and warm watery chick food is very good for her now.

 

[3speckled3]

Are any of your other birds exhibiting symptoms? It is very very hard to get a sick bird to eat and drink on their own. My other non egg bound bird that suffered coccidia at the same time didn’t open her eyes for like 5 days! I syringe fed her the entire way through. Please just be patient. Please keep her hydrated with a pedialite in a syringe. Drip it on the tip of her beak and let it roll to her mouth. Hydration is key for any curable infection. Consider feeding nutrient dense foods like oatmeal and applesauce with the pedialite. I would stay away from yogurt and dairy products until her poop looks better. Keep in mind that antibiotics will also cause Dhiarrrea. Yet again keep her hydrated.

I thoroughly cleaned the pens after I took her out just in case she wasn't egg bound and so far all of my other chickens seem fine.

I have been taking a syringe and gently placing it on the side of her beak. When I do this she slightly opens her beak allowing the water to enter. I will try the other method if she denies the water, though. I do have some applesauce, but I hadn't really considered that an option. I will try to feed some to her the same way I do her water.

 

[micstrachan]

Goodness, I’m kind of stumped. She CLEARLY does not feel well, but I don’t see any penguin stance, since she isn’t standing. Is she sleeping a lot? When (if) she does stand, is her tail tucked?

 

[3speckled3]

Does anybody have a general idea on vet costs? I would love to take her

Goodness, I’m kind of stumped. She CLEARLY does not feel well, but I don’t see any penguin stance, since she isn’t standing. Is she sleeping a lot? When (if) she does stand, is her tail tucked?

Yes, her tail is tucked when she stands

 

[pennyJo1960]

Just realized this is a silky mine do not roost unless I put them there they huddle on the floor

 

[3speckled3]

Today, while she still slept a lot, she seemed a bit more active. When I just went to check on her, she was kind of scratching around and she had a large pile of poop that seemed more solid than the day before. She also stood up before I picked her up. She has never really enjoyed being picked up, but this is the first time she's shown any reaction since she's been ill.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have any Corid or chickens who have suffered from coccidiosis in the past? It probably would not hurt to start some in her water, as @chickenchaser10 suggested earlier. That would cover a lot of bases. It costs about $18 at Tractor Supply if you get the liquid. The powder costs more. Dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid Corid per gallon of water for 5-7 days. You can also give 0.1 ml orally of the undiluted Corid twice a day.