UPDATED: Lethargic 2 y.o. hen, mucousy poop, "hollow" crop, droopy tail (EYP)

[GoldenPeep]

My 2 yr old Golden Buff started looking a little lethargic yesterday. Today I gave her the "spa treatment," (Epsom salt bath, fed her oatmeal with olive oil, which I was somewhat encouraged to see that she ate fairly well) and she in now in a crate in the house. She is still quite lethargic and isn't moving around much. She sits kind of bunched up and and her tail is droopy. Her poop is watery and mucousy with a few semi-solid green chunks in it. Her crop seems kind of swollen but feels empty, like a squishy water balloon.

I keep looking for similar stories here and it sounds like several of them: coccidiosis (she did get the medicated feed for this when she was a wee chick), egg yolk peritonitis, worms, sour crop.

What does this sound like to you all?

 

[GoldenPeep]

Anyone?

I'm going to Tractor Supply this morning but I don't know what to get. Worming meds? Which one?
Antibiotics? Which one? I might get several things but I don't know what to start with.

 

[Eggcessive]

Diarrhea can be from many different problems. Although it won't hurt her to treat with Corid (amprollium) for coccidiosis, a 2 year old hen should have built up immunity to the cocci in your soil unless you have moved to new soil or added new flock members. The best solution would be to get a sample of her droppings checked for worms, cocci, and bacteria. Does her crop empty by early morning, or is it still puffy? Does she still lay eggs? Chickens with internal laying or egg peritonitis can be lethargic and have diarrhea. Enteritis is another intestinal illness. For worming, I would use either Valbazen or SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer.

 

[GoldenPeep]

I just checked her and she has a fresh poop that is egg yolk colored. That pretty much confirms egg peritonitis, doesn't it? And if so, what is the best course of action at this point?

 

[GoldenPeep]

What is an alternative to Baytril for egg peritonitis? What I read here says:
Quote: http://poultrykeeper.com/poultry-medication/baytril-used-to-treat-respiratory-problems

 

[Eggcessive]

That does resemble egg yolk material. Can you consult with a vet? Many vets still prescribe Bayril in hens who are not going to be used for food. Cipro is similar, but most antibiotics except for procaine penicillin, that are used in hens with peritonitis, are not available at farm stores. Just about any antibiotic has warnings about not to eat eggs. Most people use a safe withdrawal time of weeks to a month for egg withdrawal. Antibiotics usually will only help tp prolong life in EYP or internal laying. Here are several articles and a long thread about EYP to help you:
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/526089/egg-yolk-peritonitis
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/tag/laying-issues/

 

[mg15]

This may help. He uses Duramyacin-10
from Tractor Supply

I hope this helps.

 

[GoldenPeep]

UPDATE:
Remarkable, she is noticeably improved today. Perkier and eating more, and actually talked to us a little bit. I have been mostly keeping her inside and covering her crate part of the day so she gets less light, and hopefully, prevent more internal laying. There has been less yolk color in her droppings, though they are still watery. Her crop and abdominal swelling have gone down and now it is apparent how much weight she has lost- her breastbone is quite prominent.

I never gave her any meds other than a half a baby aspirin a couple times. Lots of TLC and have made healthy meals for her. I've taken her out to range with her mates for a short while each day.

She is definitely not recovered and may still crash, but...knocking wood, crossing fingers, etc. Do chickens ever fully recover from this and return to normal laying? From what I have read, it sounds like once they start internal laying they never go back to normal laying. Is this true?

Here are some pics from yesterday. Notice the splay-footed stance and droopy, pale comb. She was walking very slowly and carefully. She's moving a bit quicker today.