Yolk Peritonitis?

[DWClay]

Hello All! My sweet cream Legbar, Marigold, died last night and I'd like to make sure my diagnosis is correct.

I left for work yesterday morning and saw the girls already out pecking away and everyone seemed fine! I got home around 5 and noticed she was really lethargic and panting. She was only 15 weeks old so her laying eggs wasn't on my radar.

She was wobbly, her eyes were dilated, and she was breathing with her mouth open. Her wings were almost dragging the ground and she kept squatting like she was using the bathroom. I also was able to pick her up and she felt REALLY light. I could feel her chest bone. Which is weird because the last time I picked her up, about three days ago, she felt fine!

I ran to town to get antibiotics and when I came back she had already passed.

I found where her droppings looked like watered yolk. Then I found a large yolk that was dried up and had a rubber like consistency.


The rest of the girls and boy seem fine so that's why I think it was maybe EYP.

Any other opinions as well as advice to prevent this from happening again is welcome!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello All! My sweet cream Legbar, Marigold, died last night and I'd like to make sure my diagnosis is correct.

I left for work yesterday morning and saw the girls already out pecking away and everyone seemed fine! I got home around 5 and noticed she was really lethargic and panting. She was only 15 weeks old so her laying eggs wasn't on my radar.

She was wobbly, her eyes were dilated, and she was breathing with her mouth open. Her wings were almost dragging the ground and she kept squatting like she was using the bathroom. I also was able to pick her up and she felt REALLY light. I could feel her chest bone. Which is weird because the last time I picked her up, about three days ago, she felt fine!

I ran to town to get antibiotics and when I came back she had already passed.

I found where her droppings looked like watered yolk. Then I found a large yolk that was dried up and had a rubber like consistency.


The rest of the girls and boy seem fine so that's why I think it was maybe EYP.

Any other opinions as well as advice to prevent this from happening again is welcome!

I'm sorry for your loss.

It's hard to know why she died, it does sound like she was in distress. Perhaps she was having a hard time expelling that egg and was bound.
There are so many things that can happen, unless you do an informal investigation or send the body to your state lab it's just guesses. You can find your lab in the link below.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

Egg yolk peritonitis is when egg/yolk material has been deposited into the abdominal cavity which over time causes inflammation and infection.