EYP or something else?!

[JesusandPeonies]

Have a hen who started sitting in nest box two days over the last week with no egg. I assumed possible moulting as she has new pin feathers growing on her abdomen. 2 mornings ago I saw egg content under roost and this hen did not act her normal self, very slow, lethargic. Brought her in, soaked in bath, flushed vent with Epsom salt, gave fluids. First day she did not eat or drink I syringed water and egg yolk. Second morning she walked out on her own a couple times, drank quite a bit of water and slightly pecked at food. That same after noon back to not doing well. She fluffs her feathers often as if she is in pain, her feces is extremely thick like jelly with yellowish within. Now after 2 days she obviously got green due to not eating. I don’t have a vet that can see her until 3 days from now. My only other worry is coccidiosis?
Attaching pictures

 

[Eggcessive]

I would suspect a reproductive disorder due to the yellow in her droppings. Coccidiosis is not common in adult hens. If you take her in to the vet you could have them do a fecal float (bring in some fresh droppings) to look for coccidiosis and worms. If you have an antibiotic such as amoxicillin or enrofloxacin, I would give it twice a day. You could also try 1 tablet of human calcium or Tums in case she has some lash material or an egg coming.

 

[JesusandPeonies]

I would suspect a reproductive disorder due to the yellow in her droppings. Coccidiosis is not common in adult hens. If you take her in to the vet you could have them do a fecal float (bring in some fresh droppings) to look for coccidiosis and worms. If you have an antibiotic such as amoxicillin or enrofloxacin, I would give it twice a day. You could also try 1 tablet of human calcium or Tums in case she has some lash material or an egg coming.

I do have antibiotic on hand that I’ve been giving her. Besides reproductive the only other thing I suspect is coccidiosis, but I do not think that is it. I asked the vet to do a fecal, but they didn’t seem too keen on doing it without bringing her in for full exam. I will try the tums.

 

[JesusandPeonies]

I would suspect a reproductive disorder due to the yellow in her droppings. Coccidiosis is not common in adult hens. If you take her in to the vet you could have them do a fecal float (bring in some fresh droppings) to look for coccidiosis and worms. If you have an antibiotic such as amoxicillin or enrofloxacin, I would give it twice a day. You could also try 1 tablet of human calcium or Tums in case she has some lash material or an egg coming.

She seems to be slightly improving. Has ate a few times today. Curious I am now suspecting Ascites which I feel like would make sense with the jelly like feces? Ive seen something a while back about eyebright and brewers yeast.. maybe I’ll start adding that into the mix.

 

[Eggcessive]

Ascites can be common and is sometimes associated with yellow urates in the droppings. But in the first picture her urates were white. I have seen ascites in some of the hens I have lost and done necropsies on. Egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, fatty liver disease, and heart failure can all lead to ascites. Does her lower belly under the vent seem enlarged?

 

[JesusandPeonies]

Ascites can be common and is sometimes associated with yellow urates in the droppings. But in the first picture her urates were white. I have seen ascites in some of the hens I have lost and done necropsies on. Egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, fatty liver disease, and heart failure can all lead to ascites. Does her lower belly under the vent seem enlarged?

Yes, certainly seems full and more squishy then the typical hen where it’s firm but I don’t think it’s been like that for long? This hen has never liked being handled, but she’s also my most active bird. Pretty shocking if it is Ascites that I was never aware. She’s always been smaller or stunted and low to the ground. One thing I’m a bit confused about does EYP turn into Ascites? I understand Ascites is a symptom of a root cause. So it could be heart or liver but possibly EYP that is causing the fluid build up? Or even a mixture of those root causes?

 

[Eggcessive]

Egg yolk peritonitis can cause liver failure. Draining can relieve pressure, and the presence of yellow to dark amber fluid would confirm ascites (water belly.) If the fluid is clear and colorless, that would be a different diagnosis (a cystic right oviduct.) When I have a hen with an enlarged lower belly, I don’t normally drain them unless they are having trouble breathing from the pressure. There is a risk of infection or even death when you drain. But it can be done using an 18 gauge needle and 35 ml syringe after disinfecting the skin. You can withdraw the fluid with the syringe, or take it off and let it drain into a cup.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here in post 42 are some good pictures of a hen being drained:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-5