UPDATE: My Experience Fighting Egg Yolk Peritonitis

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

BACKGROUND: Hello. Back in September 2020, I posted about my very best chicken-friend, a now 2-year old EE named "Easter," who was on the brink of death from fighting egg yolk peritonitis. She had since miraculously recovered (miraculous with a long antibiotic treatment, crop massages, force-feeding, and colloidal silver). It was almost like she did a 180 out of the blue one day--and had since sprung back full-fledged. I think what ultimately helped her was a heavy molt she endured while being treated, forcing her to quit laying eggs for a few months. I was hopeful that maybe she'd stop altogether, since egg laying seems to be what's giving her issues.

EGG LAYING ISSUES: Well, unfortunately she began laying eggs a few months ago, and I was a bit worried, but optimistic--the eggs were big, strong, and beautiful and she was laying regularly without seeming "off." I thought maybe whatever issue had caused her shell deterioration had rectified itself during the break. Unfortunately, these last few days I started noticing some warning signs. At first it was that she was laying EVERY DAY without a break, even less than 24 hours apart (which had been an early red flag from before)--but they were still healthy and so was she. Then, I started to notice roost eggs, which she'd always laid leading up to her illness. And with every roost egg laid, I noticed an increasing lack of pigmentation (that beautiful blue color), and thinner, pimply shells. But again, she was still her spritely self, eating and drinking and running around like all was well. But, this morning, upon finding her 3rd roost egg as I let the girls out, I noticed she was slow to get down from the roost (she's typically one of the first out of the hatch). When she came down, rather than sprint to food or water, she kind of seemed dazed and went to a roost bar in the run to start napping. Her tail was up and her comb looked good, she just seemed low energy.

WHERE WE ARE NOW: Wanting to act fast, I took her into the chicken hospital pen to keep a close watch on her. I got her to drink, but noticed her crop was still somewhat full from the night before. Last time she was ill, her crop stopped working for a while. It seems like all the same things are happening but across a much shorter timeline. No egg-like material is coming from her vent (vent looks healthy), and I believe she might have laid a cecal poop but I'm not sure and will keep an eye on her output today. I do notice her vent pulsating more than usual (it's been like that the last few days since she started laying thinner shelled eggs). I'm wondering if she's backed up with premature eggs. She doesn't look like she's yet on the brink of death, but I preemptively have her scheduled to go to the vet this afternoon--I'm hoping being proactive will help.

MY QUESTIONS: Has anyone else experienced issues with an over-productive hen, in which her shell quality eventually degrades as if she can't keep up with the rate her body is pumping them out? She's also a petite hen, especially given the size and rate of eggs she lays. And, what are some ways I can slow down or stop her egg laying? I've read keeping her someplace dark for 16 hours a day and letting her out with the girls for 8 will help her stop--anyone have experience with this? Thank you for any and all insight! Here is a picture of me and my lovely right hand gal, who loves belly rubs and will jump on my arm on command: (I don't know what I'd do without her!)

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

@thepick4uchicks @LateBirdFarms @Chicken I tagged you since you were helpful on my last post, and thought you might be interested in the update

 

[Chookchicken]

She is such a beautiful hen, I’m glad it all worked out

 

[CHlCKEN]

Beautiful for girl. I too rode a roller coaster with EYP last summer, and was lucky to have a survivor

There isn’t much you can do to help her, unfortunately. My hen’s body took an 8 month break on its own, which was much needed. What you can do, is monitor her, offer layer feed which will boost her calcium and give her energy to produce all of these eggs. I would not keep her in a dark place, as it just won’t do much good and not improve anything.

 

[CHlCKEN]

@thepick4uchicks @LateBirdFarms @Chicken I tagged you since you were helpful on my last post, and thought you might be interested in the update

It’s spelled CHLCKEN

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I’ve never tried it myself but you might look into getting a Suprelorin implant for her.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

It’s spelled CHLCKEN

I knew I was getting something wrong! Thanks for the reminder

 

[micstrachan]

I would try a an implant. I currently have a hen on one and it has extended her life. She’s still slowing down, however. I had another hen succumb to EYP, despite intensive avian vet care and my help at hone. I currently have one laying softies off the roost. Sometimes giving her calcium supplement (calcium citrate capsule into her beak) helps. Perhaps you could try that for a few days and see if there is improvement. You might talk with the vet about that; there is some risk of organ damage with too much calcium.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

She is such a beautiful hen, I’m glad it all worked out

Sadly, she seems to be repeating the old pattern/spiral towards EYP. I'm hoping prompt intervention (she sees a vet today) will help get ahead of it. I'm also hoping the vet can inform me of ways to get her to stop or at least slow down her laying. She's over productive and can't keep up

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I’ve never tried it myself but you might look into getting a Suprelorin implant for her.

I will ask my vet about this. I'm worried about cost, though I am willing to go to the ends of the earth for this chicken, so it probably won't stop me.