Egg inside partial egg - tail down, lethargy - looking for some advice please

[Cinnaminute]

Just wanted to update for anyone following along:

Did amoxicillin for 10 days. Last dose was the night of the 18th. I lost one of my Easter Eggers on the evening of the 19th. Go figure, I was just talking about that a few days prior. Not even 2 years yet. Been mourning her and now Peaches is having a relapse this morning. I let them out of the coop and she was fine, but she's getting progressively less responsive. Had a bit of energy and pecked around a bit, but won't eat or drink.



Brought her inside. She passed another lash egg. It's very soft and rubbery. Not very big either.



I gave her a calcium tablet hoping it might help a bit. But it's been a couple hours. I don't have much to lose so I'm going to throw some more amoxicillin at her. If it makes her feel better, that's what matters. If not, I'm going to have to consider my options on culling her. If she bounces back from the amoxicillin, I'll get some lotus leaf extract and maybe another antibiotic that might help more.

 

[LaFleche]

I am very sorry for your loss!

As it seems, Peaches is suffering from a severe infection of the reproductive tract where the treatment with amoxicillin has brought some relief but was not really able to beat the infection.

It might be time to change the antibiotic.

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m sorry that she is not doing well. Unfortunately when lash eggs appear from salpingitis, antibiotics seldom will help fight the infection. You can try more if she is responding to them. Coelomitis (formerly egg yolk peritonitis) is very common in hens over 2 years old. It is important to do a home necropsy or get one by the state vet if you lose her to get a look inside her belly, if you lose her. Take pictures if you do. Here are some very graphic pictures of salpingitis and a necropsy in this link:
https://bitchinchickens.com/2020/08/27/case-study-salpingitis-2/

 

[Cinnaminute]

@LaFleche Thank you so much. Zelda was my Golden Girl, one of the first 6 chickens I've ever had. Head hen, had decently sized spurs too! And a big floppy comb that my mom always commented on her looking like she was wearing a bonnet, haha.

@Eggcessive I appreciate the extra info! Peaches is 11 months old, so I believe something genetic is at play. Definitely will need to get my mental strength up to do a necropsy whenever she passes away. I could send her off to the state, but I get super sentimental. So it seems it'd be better for me to learn how to do it myself.

I haven't noticed any abdomenal swelling. Like all of my chickens, she's got that little fat pack between her legs closer to her vent. It's soft yet firm. I've been checking it about once a week to see if it's getting bigger or not. Doesn't seem like it but I understand it could be very gradual. I'll keep in mind that it needs to be checked if I do the necropsy.

I definitely don't want to lose anyone else anytime soon, though Peaches has been a concern for a little while now so I wouldn't be too surprised at losing her. Still would be just as sad. Going to do everything I can for her, without jeopardizing her well-being. It's pointless if she's miserable. But her eyes are very clear and lively. She doesn't seem ready to go. Just feeling icky.

She cuddled up into my lap for a bit to rest. I've been getting some Nutridrench into her. Got her to taste a little peanut butter. I think it all gave her a bit of a boost.


I took her outside to get some sun and she walked around, did some scratching too. When I brought her in, she's finally eating some soupy feed! I haven't given any more antibiotics yet. Trying to see if she'll spring back on her own but if she's icky for too long, I'll give her some for relief.


Will keep this posted with what else I do for her and how she progresses.

 

[Eggcessive]

Her tail is up a little better and she looks good out in the yard. With lash eggs and the problems that reproductive disorders cause, they may have good days and bad. Let us know how she does.

 

[Cinnaminute]

Peaches passed away today, a little before 4pm EST, at the age of 1 year 11 months.

--Her Final Moments--
She went to do her usual false laying procedure, but she spent far too long on the nest and looked weak. I took her off the nest and gave her a calcium tablet just in case. I rarely have to give them to her, but it's my first step during her episodes. It's hard to say if they help, but they've never hurt.

She got a drink, then went back to the nest so I figured maybe she'll be fine. But I kept an extra close eye on her and provided a fan so she wouldn't get too hot. But she was just getting weaker. When I took her off the nest again, she staggered and was drooping her one wing. So I went to prepare the carrier to bring her in. In that 5-10 minutes, she passed away. She had gone back into the shed and laid beside the nesting box with her head in the corner. I think I caught her just as she breathed her last. I'm just glad I could be with her today, even if it wasn't a good time.

I would have put her on antibiotics, but she just came off of them a couple days ago. I had given them to her because she did have an off day about a week ago after having a lot of lash/mucus come out of her and I was worried about an infection. I doubt they would have helped, though. I think she was just at her limit. She had been building a lot of dense, thick material in her abdomen for a while. It had gone down a little during the winter, but was building up quickly again once she started "laying" again.
--

♥ Rest in peace my lovely bird. ♥ She had a great year despite her condition. She would have the rare "episode" of feeling sick. I'd put her on antibiotics for a week and she would be back to her normal self. I think this only happened about 5 times. She was strong and perky. I think the winter was her best time, since she went off the laying and also molted.

She had a round of fowl pox with the others late last year after Hurricane Helene, but powered through smoothly. I think I can safely say she had a really good life. She was always active. She loved to chase the wild birds away. And when I merged my two flocks into one flock back in late February, she made it clear very quickly that no one was to mess with her! She would chase them around! And the dog! She was beautiful and fabulous and she knew it. She would dust bathe, but when she sun bathed, she would never lay down. Instead, she'd stand and show off her wings. Such a character~ ♥

I miss her so much already. Even yesterday, she had a great day. She dust bathed and ate some hard boiled egg for a late afternoon treat. There was no sign of anything amiss until late this morning. She definitely lived life to the fullest. I'm just sad she's gone already. Although, I didn't think she'd even make it this long. So I'm really grateful she did. One of her favorite activities was standing on something wooden. I don't know why, but she loved being on a wooden pedestal. Even if it was the porch stairs or just a pallet of wood that only stood a few inches off the ground. :,)

I brought her home June 9th, 2023. What a little cutie! She and Pooka were the same age, but Pooka was so much smaller!



She looked so funky when her crest started coming in properly!


Perhaps the start of her love for perching on wood, she loved to lay on the end table in the living room so much that I had to lay a potty pad on it so she could lounge fabulously.


She liked showing off to the other flock's rooster, Truffles. She also adored her roo, Hans, and always loved to groom him. But I think she loved her wooden pedestals a little more.


Peaches first pumpkin! She wasn't very impressed.


During the fall of 2024, she did have some bumblefoot issues. Thankfully that cleared up over the winter with some TLC.


The fowl pox she dealt with last fall was a large lump on top of her beak. It didn't seem to trouble her too much, thankfully. And she recovered fairly quickly.


We got snow for the first time in years, so Peaches got to experience her first snow! She wasn't fond of cold feet, but seemed to enjoy the snow regardless.








A picture of her after she has passed with some flowers from a bush of ours. The flowers remind me of her. The scent is strong and pleasant, just like her personality. I'll be burying her tomorrow. Sleep well my sweet girl.

Spoiler: RIP Peaches, you are deeply missed ♥

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What a beautiful, brave bird! You were so blessed to have had her! Thank you for sharing her journey with us, and her beautiful pictures. I am so sorry for your loss but at the same time, I envy you for having shared her life. What a special little character! And she was blessed to have had you, as well. Enjoy your memories of her.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry that you lost Peaches too soon. Thank you for posting her sweet pictures.

 

[LaFleche]

Have a hug! She was very cute and I am sorry her life was cut short.