- May 29, 2019
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I'd posted some months ago about my 6 y/o BO, who didn't start laying again with the others this Spring (they're all the same age). Well, since then, her lower abdomen started to become larger and firmer, with some give--but it seemed a bit troubling. Her comb and wattles didn't quite develop (so she didn't seem actively in lay), and while her color was decent, the vet noted she looked a bit dusky. So I took her to the vet. The vet suspected it was a tumor, because he couldn't feel eggs and said it didn't seem like she had any fluid in her, nor did it feel like she was internally laying. I left feeling quite disheartened.
Weeks pass, and her abdomen becomes even more distended. She began making a very slight snoring sound when breathing. I assume it's the beginning of the end. One day, I noticed she was drinking a ton of water, and her crop wasn't emptying--it was huge like a water balloon, and did not empty overnight either. So, the next day, I gave her a hail mary epsom soak and fed her some coconut oil, then kept her in the dark in a crate. She was barely passing any stool (what did come out was watery with very little fecal matter). Eventually I let her out with the others, because she seemed agitated. As soon as I did, she ran to her coop and laid a beautiful, strong-shelled egg, and sang the egg song triumphantly.
The next day, her crop still hadn't fully emptied, so I tried another epsom soak and coconut oil feeding thinking she may have another egg. All that passed was a giant, healthy poop. After that, her crop emptied and she began eating, drinking and foraging with vigor. Her comb became big and a healthy bright pink (no more duskiness), and it seemed like she blossomed into her laying season. The swelling in her abdomen went away fully, and she felt back to normal.
But that was 3 weeks ago... she since hasn't laid again, except for one fake-out where she spent a couple hours in a nesting box to no avail. She's been eating/drinking, preening, foraging, and dust bathing and her comb/wattles are still vibrant. The past week, she's starting to swell again (feels the same as last time), but still no egg. Her crop is emptying, but today it seemed a bit doughy and her poops are healthy but on the smaller side. I gave her an epsom soak and have her in the dark again, hoping it may help get things moving. I've also given her extra calcium doses.
So, is it normal for a 6 y/o hen to only lay one egg and stop? Is it possible that producing an egg creates a lot of inflammation, which is why she swells up so much beforehand? I imagine a tumor wouldn't "disappear" after she lays--I'm not sure what kind of swelling would. I'm really hoping it's just that she needs to lay again, and perhaps she has trouble getting it through her system. I'm worried about internal laying or a back-up of eggs, though I can't really feel anything. She always laid less than the others and for a shorter season, but never like this (last Spring she started in March, laid a few a week and stopped in July). I'd appreciate any insights as to what might be going on!
P.S. I love this chicken dearly. She is my fluffy golden shadow, follows me everywhere, and leaps into my arms for snuggles. Giving her baths is a joy (minus the worrying) because she just cuddles into me and savors it the whole time. I will be lost without her and feel so helpless--I wish I could know what's going on and how I can best support her!
Weeks pass, and her abdomen becomes even more distended. She began making a very slight snoring sound when breathing. I assume it's the beginning of the end. One day, I noticed she was drinking a ton of water, and her crop wasn't emptying--it was huge like a water balloon, and did not empty overnight either. So, the next day, I gave her a hail mary epsom soak and fed her some coconut oil, then kept her in the dark in a crate. She was barely passing any stool (what did come out was watery with very little fecal matter). Eventually I let her out with the others, because she seemed agitated. As soon as I did, she ran to her coop and laid a beautiful, strong-shelled egg, and sang the egg song triumphantly.
The next day, her crop still hadn't fully emptied, so I tried another epsom soak and coconut oil feeding thinking she may have another egg. All that passed was a giant, healthy poop. After that, her crop emptied and she began eating, drinking and foraging with vigor. Her comb became big and a healthy bright pink (no more duskiness), and it seemed like she blossomed into her laying season. The swelling in her abdomen went away fully, and she felt back to normal.
But that was 3 weeks ago... she since hasn't laid again, except for one fake-out where she spent a couple hours in a nesting box to no avail. She's been eating/drinking, preening, foraging, and dust bathing and her comb/wattles are still vibrant. The past week, she's starting to swell again (feels the same as last time), but still no egg. Her crop is emptying, but today it seemed a bit doughy and her poops are healthy but on the smaller side. I gave her an epsom soak and have her in the dark again, hoping it may help get things moving. I've also given her extra calcium doses.
So, is it normal for a 6 y/o hen to only lay one egg and stop? Is it possible that producing an egg creates a lot of inflammation, which is why she swells up so much beforehand? I imagine a tumor wouldn't "disappear" after she lays--I'm not sure what kind of swelling would. I'm really hoping it's just that she needs to lay again, and perhaps she has trouble getting it through her system. I'm worried about internal laying or a back-up of eggs, though I can't really feel anything. She always laid less than the others and for a shorter season, but never like this (last Spring she started in March, laid a few a week and stopped in July). I'd appreciate any insights as to what might be going on!
P.S. I love this chicken dearly. She is my fluffy golden shadow, follows me everywhere, and leaps into my arms for snuggles. Giving her baths is a joy (minus the worrying) because she just cuddles into me and savors it the whole time. I will be lost without her and feel so helpless--I wish I could know what's going on and how I can best support her!
