4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Hen Watch]

I was convinced Stella was egg bound and took her to the vet today expecting to have my diagnosis confirmed. Well I was wrong.

 

Thought I'd share her symptoms in case this helps anyone else. 2 weeks ago I had to ease out a shrivelled egg shell stuck in her vent and then applied Gentian Violet Spray as it bled a little and wanted to stop the others pecking it. All was OK for a while.

 

On Friday she spent all day sitting on the grass, rocking to and fro with laboured breathing. Not seen her eat or do much poop (although evidence of a bit on her knickers) and she kept retiring to the run to lie down. Saturday her abdomen felt swollen, so I booked the vets for Monday (today). At this point I was convinced she was egg bound. So I did the warm bath and oil in and around the vent technicque. Set her up indoors in a cat box. No egg passed. She'd been wormed with Flubenvet in February.

 

Here she is a warm bath.

 

From bath into catbox indoors to keep warm, with an abdomen that looked bloated to me.

 

SOOOOOO......Vet today.

 

Examined, NO egg found. Abdomen is a little swollen. Rattely chest and laboured breathing. Vet thinks she may have a respiratory infection, or it could be some other underlying problem with her heart or a tumour.

 

So she was given an injection of Baytril** and an injection of Ivomec***, plus some oral Baytril to take home and syringe into her beak daily.

**Not licensed for use in hens producing eggs for human consumption.

***Not licensed for use in Poultry in UK. I am withdrawing eggs for 28 days.

 

So we will wait and see if the drugs work. Keep everything crossed for her

[Chickvic]

I hope she's ok, sending lots of positive vibes for Stella

[chelsea]

oh look at her, she doesnt look very happy does she - bless her.

 

Sending lots of special recovery vibes your way.

 

By the way - the vet didnt mention sterile peritonitis at all did he?? The swollen abdomen, laboured breathing and looking at the photos she looks slightly similar to my Ella from behind. (dont want to worry you - just a thought. )

 

Let us know how she goes.

[Hen Watch]

By the way - the vet didnt mention sterile peritonitis at all did he?? The swollen abdomen, laboured breathing and looking at the photos she looks slightly similar to my Ella from behind. (dont want to worry you - just a thought. )

 

No she didn't ..... but when I now look at the FAQ bit about Sterile Peritonitis she does have some similar symptoms. Hopefully the Baytril will do some good and I will keep an eye on her. Thanks for the positive vibes.

 

** Edit to say: The vet I went to did say she wasn't a poultry expert but the surgery have seen quite a few egg bound / crop problem chickens including some folk on the forum. So I am pleased I've got some Baytril which I hope will help.

[Egluntyne]

I hope it does the trick.

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

Hi

 

How's Stella doing now?

[Hen Watch]

Hi

 

How's Stella doing now?

 

Thanks for asking. She's actually tons better. Even 1 day after the vet visit, she was walking round the garden and doing chickeny things wheras before she was sitting panting and rocking. She hates me syringing Baytril down her throat daily but apart from that she seems fine. So glad I went to the vet and got the medication.

 

Only downside temporarily was, she is bottom of the pecking order anyway and when reintroduced to the others after a few days separation indoors, the others kept going for her. But it seems ok now.

 

Still not sure if I will ever know what it was but there you go