Vet is stumped! Why are my hens having so much trouble??

[GumBranchChick]

I will try the wet feed & see what they think. It’s worth a shot!

So I guess I should research the egg lash. I have no idea what that means for her. Is it related to the salpingitis that was mentioned earlier?

 

[MissChick@dee]

Yes....it’s a infection in her Fallopian tube where she produces eggs yes please look it up. Sometimes we need answers. I’m sorry you have the answer you do. God bless you and how much you love your girls.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree that the first post is too long and could have been more brief for more people to have helped.

It does look like a possible lash egg and some odd looking membranes with gelatinous masses that might be associated with impacted oviduct and salpingitis. Oyster shell may help, and I saw where you have it available. You can try giveing a human calcium tablet with vitamin D3 once a day to an affected hen. Even then if a hen has a problem with the shell gland portion of her oviduct, she can still lay a shell-less egg. I had an injured hen who suddenly stopped laying normal eggs, and always laid a soft egg thereafter. Infectious bronchitis virus in the flock, which may not even be noticed, can also cause abnormal or soft eggs. Salpingitis, broken eggs internally, shell-less eggs can eventually lead to egg yolk peritonitis. Here is some reading:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...tem/egg-bound-or-impacted-oviducts-in-poultry

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/disorders-of-the-reproductive-system/salpingitis-in-poultry

 

[lena_]

I'm sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble with your birds. It sounds like you care for them very much. Is the vet that you have been seeing an avian vet? If you have the money it may be a good idea to invest in an avian vet. What area are you located in?

 

[GumBranchChick]

I agree that the first post is too long and could have been more brief for more people to have helped.

It does look like a possible lash egg and some odd looking membranes with gelatinous masses that might be associated with impacted oviduct and salpingitis. Oyster shell may help, and I saw where you have it available. You can try giveing a human calcium tablet with vitamin D3 once a day to an affected hen. Even then if a hen has a problem with the shell gland portion of her oviduct, she can still lay a shell-less egg. I had an injured hen who suddenly stopped laying normal eggs, and always laid a soft egg thereafter. Infectious bronchitis virus in the flock, which may not even be noticed, can also cause abnormal or soft eggs. Salpingitis, broken eggs internally, shell-less eggs can eventually lead to egg yolk peritonitis. Here is some reading:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...tem/egg-bound-or-impacted-oviducts-in-poultry

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/disorders-of-the-reproductive-system/salpingitis-in-poultry

Thank you for the info & reading links.
On a side note: Every time I see someone ask what’s wrong with their bird, everyone says we need more info, we need more info, but now I’ve given all the info & it’s too much. Idk what the heck I’m doing & what is or isn’t relevant. I said that from the beginning. And I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a long term chicken farmer, I just want to do right by the ones I have while they’re here.

 

[GumBranchChick]

I'm sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble with your birds. It sounds like you care for them very much. Is the vet that you have been seeing an avian vet? If you have the money it may be a good idea to invest in an avian vet. What area are you located in?

Thank you! I do love them. I never wanted to have my own children so I think my maternal energy is focused on my animals. Yes he is an avian vet but I’m in south Alabama & in this area, most chickens are owned by farmers who have a very different way of dealing with an unhealthy bird. So he likely doesn’t see as many chickens as he does parrots, etc. Athough I have seen a turkey in there before.

 

[lena_]

Thank you for the info & reading links.
On a side note: Every time I see someone ask what’s wrong with their bird, everyone says we need more info, we need more info, but now I’ve given all the info & it’s too much. Idk what the heck I’m doing & what is or isn’t relevant. I said that from the beginning. And I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a long term chicken farmer, I just want to do right by the ones I have while they’re here.

It's okay, you're not doing anything wrong. You seem to care very much about your birds, and I think that it's great you are willing to learn and grow as a chicken keeper. I hope your birds recover, but it will take time and patience.

You are doing a great job, it's all part of learning.

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t mean to offend you, but I have trouble reading such a long first post. It is better for me if someone just gives a brief story, and then lets others ask for specific info. Many do not give any details, but the briefer we can be, the more people may read it and help. I have a tendency to write way too much myself, tying to give an opinion, LOL.

 

[GumBranchChick]

It's okay, you're not doing anything wrong. You seem to care very much about your birds, and I think that it's great you are willing to learn and grow as a chicken keeper. I hope your birds recover, but it will take time and patience.

You are doing a great job, it's all part of learning.

Thank you! That means a lot!

 

[GumBranchChick]

I don’t mean to offend you, but I have trouble reading such a long first post. It is better for me if someone just gives a brief story, and then lets others ask for specific info. Many do not give any details, but the briefer we can be, the more people may read it and help. I have a tendency to write way too much myself, tying to give an opinion, LOL.

See I think about these things backwards...the people that are willing to make it through all that are likely the only ones that are able to help my complicated situation. And I don’t have all night to check for new questions necessarily. And in my mind, my hen may not have the time for me to go back & forth for 4 days. My worry makes me over inform. Now you see why I love my vets so much. I can text them excessive info on a Sunday morning & they’re happy to help.

Have ordered new oyster shell & I’m on my way to the store for human calcium & vit d3 now. Any specific dosage?