Help with EYP or Ascites?

[kevinmaysie]

Hello! Advice needed! Not sure if my hen has EYP. Found her lethargic Wednesday night. So I separated her and next morning discovered her abdomen swollen and very hot. Drained fluid yellowish color about 200 cc. Gave her electrolytes in water. Next day she’s still not up and would always just lay down. Purple comb, open mouth. Gave her eggs, didn’t eat much. Friday abdomen is cooler so I didn’t drain fluid out. Saturday had to drained fluid again about 80cc. She’s drinking but not eating much. I did give her a soak and checked vent not egg bound. Sunday I went ahead and administered penicillin .50cc and drained about 50cc. I hope I’m not too late to give her antibiotic since it’s day 5 already! She has lost weight. Would only walk around and peck on food when I pressure her to, which I feel so bad. Offered yogurt and ignored it. Is there something I’m missing? Anything else I can do? No vet to see her. Please help! Also she always had problem with shell less eggs and soft shell eggs.

 

[Chicken Whisperers]

Most likely waterbelly. You can give her antibiotics or pain killers but if she lays an egg DONT eat it. The best you can do is feed her yourself and keep draining the fluids from her abdomen. Praying that she lives through for a while. How old is she? It's more common in chickens 5 and up

 

[Chicken Whisperers]

Also, welcome to BYC! Wish circumstances were better

 

[kevinmaysie]

Most likely waterbelly. You can give her antibiotics or pain killers but if she lays an egg DONT eat it. The best you can do is feed her yourself and keep draining the fluids from her abdomen. Praying that she lives through for a while. How old is she? It's more common in chickens 5 and up

Thank you. She’s 2 years old.

 

[kevinmaysie]

Also, welcome to BYC! Wish circumstances were better

Thank you! Every time I google something for my babies, this site always come up first and today I was like why am I not on here! Thank you

 

[Chicken Whisperers]

Thank you. She’s 2 years old.

Hmm... Maybe has something to do with the shell less eggs? Not enough calcium in her diet? I'm sorry, I don't know much when it comes to weird eggs

 

[kevinmaysie]

I think so too! We put crushed oyster shells in their feed but she’s always had problems with the shell less eggs and soft shell eggs.

 

[All Ball]

Good luck! Seems like you are taking some helpful steps with draining the fluid and antibiotics. As you'll read on this site, chickens can be prone to reproductive problems because they reproduce so much, and chickens prone to shell-less or soft eggs can have further reproductive issues down the line. I had an EYP girl who managed to live with it for a year, with relatively decent quality of life, after she had her belly drained and we finally found an antibiotic that worked for her. I can't tell from your pic - my girl's fluid was very much yolk-colored, so it was clear that eggs were ending up in the wrong place. You might want to check the archive for comments from casportpony on which antibiotics may be most effective for EYP-related infections - I think she may have recommended baytril.

 

[Chicken Whisperers]

Agreed: here are some more experienced people: @casportpony @drumstick diva @KikisGirls @speckledhen

 

[micstrachan]

She looks thin in the photo. If she’s lost weight, has ascites, and lays soft and shell less eggs, I would suspect a laying disorder. When my girl had EYP, I think the antibiotic was Clavamox (Augmentin). The blue comb could be from the abdominal fluid restricting her breathing. Did it brighten up when you drained her? Also, be careful when draining. Too much can send them into shock. One avian Vet who drained my hen replenished fluids subcutaneously. She responded well (also had a second round of antibiotics at that point). Good luck.