Egg Yolk Peritonitis??

[clucksnducklins]

Hello, my chicken Kirby is almost 4 years old, and she has been swelled up like a balloon for a few weeks now, this has happened before in the summer and I soaked her in Epsom salt in warm water and she seemed to act normal again, but this time she had gotten so huge and seems worse everyday. She still eats and tries to move around but always has her wings and tail down and sits most of the time. I tried to check if she had water belly with a syringe but almost nothing came out but a bit of thick yellow foam.. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[CHlCKEN]

EYP is a rapid killer. Your bird would’ve been dead in days or less if that were the case. The stance can indicate GI issues and paired with the bloating that seems most likely. “Thick yellow foam” makes me think sour crop. What does her breath smell like and how does her poop look?

 

[StinkyAcres]

Seems like ascites or EYP to me, which unfortunately means organ failure and treatments only offer temporary relief. Where did you insert the syringe?

 

[StinkyAcres]

“Thick yellow foam” makes me think sour crop.

Couldn't the thick yellow foam be "cooked" egg yolk?

 

[Eggcessive]

Her lower abdomen is huge. Either she has water belly or egg yolk peritonitis (coelomitis) where there are masses of egg material in solid lash material. Water belly can be from cancer, egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, and heart failure. When you get yellow liquid from the abdomen, there is ascites/water belly. I would try to make her as comfortable as possible. Offer foods she likes, and keep food and water near her. If she seems to be suffering, consider putting her down or having your vet or a friend who hunts, put her down. I do home necropsy’s to look at the organs to see what was going on. Post pictures if you do one, and yours state vet lab will do a more detailed necropsy.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Couldn't the thick yellow foam be "cooked" egg yolk?

I thought so at first but the fact that they say it’s been several weeks makes untreated EYP seem impossible. That’s just my opinion though.

 

[clucksnducklins]

Seems like ascites or EYP to me, which unfortunately means organ failure and treatments only offer temporary relief. Where did you insert the syringe?

I inserted the syringe to the right of the cloaca, about 2 finger width down

 

[clucksnducklins]

Also, her poop appears normal, it is just all over her butt though.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Also, her poop appears normal, it is just all over her butt though.

If it is all over her butt it is probably too runny. Normal poop is formed and doesn't stick to the feathers.