Hen has advanced Egg Yolk Peritonitis, how long does she have?

[Aryetheral Waalburgus]

Thank you, everyone for all your helpful replies! She is still fairly active and walks around in the yard, so I think I'm going to wait until she stops walking around with the other hens or eating/drinking to put her down.

 

[rebrascora]

I would agree. From those photos I would not suspect ascites. The gap between the legs I have marked in green would not exist with ascites and the belly would be hanging low like the orange line.

I think it is more likely that your bird has salpingitis and her oviduct is severely impacted with lash egg material. I would say that she is probably in quite a bit of discomfort and it is too far gone to do much about it if her crop is slow and she is only passing white or liquid urates. I would say it is time to end it for her now. If you do, or when she eventually passes, do you feel able to open up her abdominal cavity and take photos? I will post a link to a video which shows the sort of thing I mean. It is actually a propaganda video by vegans, which I do not necessarily support but it does portray what I think you will find. The video quality is not too good but you get the gist of it without it being too gory. Do not watch if you are squeamish as it contains graphic footage of a chicken necropsy....

 

[rebrascora]

For some reason I didn't see your last post when I composed mine. Only you can decide when her quality of life has deteriorated to the point of ending it..... I did not mean to suggest you are making the wrong decision in leaving it, but just that if she was mine, I would probably do it now. I wish you courage and send my sympathies for when you have to implement that decision. It is never easy.

 

[Aryetheral Waalburgus]

I'm getting ready to drive to the vet to put her down now. She's in an enclosure in the yard with her sisters for her last few hours. Thank you everyone for all your answers and help. It means a lot to me.

 

[rebrascora]

Thinking of you at this difficult time and sending sincerest condolences.

 

[Trux]

Sorry to hear, condolences

 

[Aryetheral Waalburgus]

Thank you. The vet agreed that it was Salpingitis, without Ascites, with a possibility of cancer as well. He said it was a strange case without fluid, and that the "bulge" was likely egg lash and infection build-up.