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

[megg]

Hi everyone,

 

I have three 16 month old orpingtons who have now not laid an egg for 3 weeks (or maybe longer - i haven't had a 3 egg day for quite a while). Freckle has been broody for most of this time so I am not too concerned about her.

My main worry is Mabel. She has a swollen abdomen (about the size of an apple) between her legs which I first noticed 2 weeks ago (but she could have been like it for longer). It is squishy and I cannot feel an egg. Other than this she is perfectly fine, running and jumping around as normal, chatty, eating and drinking. She does have a slightly dirty bottom but has always had this tendancy and seems no different to normal.

If she is egg bound or is suffering with peritonitis would she not be showing other symptoms by now?

Is there also likely to be a connection with my other chook Speckle who has no signs of anything wrong with her at all but has also not laid for 3 weeks?

I haven't yet taken Mabel to the vets as she seems happy enough but feel that maybe I should have. I don't want to cause her anymore stress than is absolutely necessary.

 

Thankyou to anyone reading this who has advice to give!

 

Ooh I forgot to say that I have never had any egg related problems with any of my chooks before - none of them have ever laid a softie or anything.

[Olly]

No expert, but I would say if she had egg peritonitis she would probably be displaying some other symptoms.

 

Just to exclude other possibilities, have they been wormed recently? Are you feeding a lot of treats? Do they free-range or are they in the run most of the time, and are you sure they're not going through a moult?

[megg]

I have been using Verm X but have ordered Flubenvet so will definately be using that when it arrives.

I feed them layers pellets mixed with a little poultry spice, limestone flour and bokashi bran and a little sweetcorn and some form of greens in the morning and throw them a handful of corn in the evenings. I have cut down on the corn in the last few days as I'd heard that this can halt laying.

The chooks have a 12 foot x 6 foot covered run with a fairly large fenced area under the apple trees which they have access to from dawn to dusk. We are out to work all day but I don't think they are being traumatised by anything. Our neighbours are all very outdoorsy country folk (!) and no-one has commented on any kind of disturbance or fox visit.

I don't think they are moulting, but I've yet to witness this and as they are fluffy orpingtons I did wonder how obvious it would be when they do. I haven't noticed a massive increase in feathers in the run.

I hope this covers everything!!

Thank you.

[Egluntyne]

The swollen abdomen does sound like a symptom of peritonitis. Does she walk with a wide legged gait?

[megg]

No she doesn't seem to be walking any differently which does surprise me as with the bulge as it is it looks as if she should have a bit of a waddle.

From reading other peoples posts I would diagnose peritonitis but am a bit confused as to her apparent lack of other symptoms and the fact that there has been no change for at least 2 weeks.

[Egluntyne]

Apart from the swelling and a change in laying habits, they can bumble along for a while with Sterile Peritonitis. It is only when the fluid build up starts causing breathing difficulties that they stop enjoying life.

 

Might be worth getting a vet to look at her.

[megg]

Thank you Egluntine. I will ring the vet first thing Monday morning and hopefully she will be fine until then. Is it possible for a hen to make a full recovery if it is peritonitis or do I need to prepare myself for the worst?