Egg Peritonitis in Chickens
The eggs your chickens lay are one of the most important tell-tale signs of their well-being. Regarding the exterior, relatively thick, unbroken shells are what you want. On the interior, a thick and firm egg white with a high, round, and rich color yolk is ideal. All of which should be free of defects and internal foreign matter.
If one of your hens is not laying eggs like that, there might be a problem. Thin-shelled eggs, broken eggs in the coop, or a decrease in egg production altogether could signal your hen is suffering from egg peritonitis.
If left untreated, egg peritonitis could become life-threatening. Therefore, it’s critical to know what to do if you suspect it and how to prevent it from happening in the first place. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about egg peritonitis, including:
What causes egg peritonitis
Common symptoms of egg peritonitis
How to prevent egg peritonitis from affecting your flock
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What Causes Egg Peritonitis?
The root cause of egg peritonitis is the presence of yolk material in the coelomic cavity of egg-laying. However, there are some other conditions that make the development of egg peritonitis more likely.
Overfeeding hens during their sexual maturation
Genetic disposition for larger eggs causes more strain on the reproductive system
Older age causes the reproductive tract not to function as efficiently
Erratic oviposition and defective egg syndrome
What is Egg Peritonitis?
Egg peritonitis, also known as egg yolk peritonitis or coelomitis, is the inflammation of the serosal surfaces within the coelom of a hen. The inflammation occurs in response to egg material, like yolk, that has been deposited or laid internally. In a healthy hen, a developing egg passes from the bird’s ovary into the oviduct and then out of the body. However, in a hen experiencing egg yolk peritonitis, the egg leaves the ovary and becomes embedded in the coelomic cavity, causing inflammation of the peritoneum.
The deposits of egg material in the coelomic cavity and peritoneum may start off as sterile. However, yolk makes a productive breeding ground for bacteria. Therefore, the yolk in the coelom usually leads to a secondary bacterial infection, most commonly Escherichia coli, or E.coli or occasionally Salmonella. Eventually, the bacterial infection spreads through the bird’s bloodstream, causing life-threatening infections of important organs like the liver, kidneys, and heart.
The condition is common in older hens because their egg-laying organs weaken with age. It’s also common in hens who are laying an excessive amount of eggs. Or hens with other underlying health problems.
Some breeds of chickens are more susceptible to developing egg peritonitis than others. This is usually because certain breeds are well-known for laying such large eggs. Hens that lay larger eggs typically have a higher egg-laying rate, leading to more strain on the reproductive system. As a result, they are more susceptible to reproductive issues.
Often, you can remove concerns by purchasing your backyard chickens from a reputable breeder who is aware of these concerns, but some breeds will be naturally susceptible regardless of how careful you are.
What Does Egg Peritonitis Look Like?
There are a few clinical signs of egg peritonitis you should look out for. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s recommended that you seek out professional veterinarian care.
Possible Symptoms of Egg Yolk Peritonitis
Decreased egg production or hens stop laying eggs altogether
Hens may lay soft-shelled, thin-shelled, or abnormally shaped eggs
Loss of appetite
Egg binding
Behavior changes, such as lethargy and difficulty moving around while foraging the ground
Visibly distended abdomens due to the presence of fluid, normally on one side of the hen’s body
Increased respiratory rate and labored breathing
How Will a Vet Diagnose Egg Peritonitis?
If you have a chicken that is showing symptoms of egg peritonitis, it’s critical to have them examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. When the vet sees your chicken, they will perform a physical exam. This involves palpating the abdomen of the chicken (feeling with their hands and fingertips) in search of fluid or soft-shelled eggs in the coelom. In this examination, the veterinarian will also observe the bird's respiratory response.
Besides the physical examination, the vet will also perform a series of blood tests, like a complete blood count test. This test will reveal if there is an elevated amount of white blood cells in the chicken’s bloodstream, indicating an infection.
A coelomocentesis procedure is also commonly carried out on chickens with symptoms of egg yolk peritonitis. This procedure involves inserting a needle into the bird’s coelom, just below the keel or breast bone of the bird. With this procedure, the vet can draw out fluid from the abdomen that is then sent for laboratory testing. Laboratory tests will reveal if there is a bacterial infection to help determine which antibiotics can help the chicken heal.
Lastly, to diagnose egg peritonitis, a vet may also take X-rays or perform an ultrasound examination further to assess the interior condition of the bird's coelom. X-rays and ultrasonographic procedures will confirm or deny the presence of fluid (yolk) or unshelled or partially shelled eggs.
How to Treat Egg Peritonitis
Certain cases of egg peritonitis can be life-threatening. However, with a quick diagnosis and subsequent proper treatment, your chicken’s peritonitis condition can be treated successfully.
In mild cases of egg peritonitis, where there is no advanced bacterial infection or underlying reproductive disease, treatment is simple. It involves supportive care, like hand feeding and anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pain.
With advanced cases of egg yolk peritonitis, where there is a systemic bacterial infection due to the presence of infected yolk in the coelom, stronger antibiotic medication is required. The delivery mode for these prescribed antibiotics may be oral or injected.
In severe cases of egg peritonitis, hospitalization may be required. With this treatment, the bird can receive injectable fluids (either subcutaneously or intravenously), oxygen therapy, and drainage of the coelom. In addition, a salpingohysterectomy (salpingitis) can be performed where the eggs in the coelom or the oviduct itself can be surgically removed if necessary.
After successful drainage of coelomic fluid and treatment of the bacterial infection, hormone treatment may also help the bird. Hormonal treatment will stop the bird from ovulating and prevent the bird trying to lay eggs and having to deal with peritonitis in the future.
Lastly, if the case of egg peritonitis is particularly advanced and severe, sometimes the most humane course of treatment is to put the bird down.
How to Prevent Egg Yolk Peritonitis
If egg yolk peritonitis is left to develop, it can become difficult to treat and even fatal. Therefore, it’s important to prevent it from occurring in the first place. And if it does occur, it’s critical to notice it before the condition is allowed to develop too far.
Preventative Strategies for Egg Yolk Peritonitis
Ensuring your hens have a healthy and balanced diet consisting of high-quality and clean feed
Monitor your hens’ egg-laying behaviors, keeping an eye out for abnormal and broken eggs in the nest box
Proper management of body weight and uniformity
Management of reproductive development like ovary follicle growth
Drinking water sanitation
Proper hygienic practices in and around the chicken coop
Seeking out veterinary care when necessary
Is Egg Peritonitis Contagious?
No, egg peritonitis is not contagious. However, the conditions that caused the condition in one bird may also increase the odds of other birds in your flock developing the same problem. In addition, egg peritonitis is not communicable to humans.
For example, one of the preventative strategies for egg peritonitis is avoiding overfeeding and managing proper body weight and uniformity amongst the flock. That’s because overfeeding hens during their sexual maturation can increase the amount of ovarian follicles. When a bird has too many ovarian follicles, erratic oviposition and defective egg syndrome (EODES) can occur.
EODES is often accompanied by a high incidence of double-yolk eggs, prolapse of the oviduct, internal ovulation, and internal laying, which can lead to egg peritonitis. You can prevent EODES by avoiding light stimulation of underweight pullets. You can also avoid the condition by following best practices for body weight and uniformity, as well as lighting recommendations for your chicken breed during their maturation.
Is Egg Peritonitis Fatal?
Not all cases of egg peritonitis are fatal. For example, it’s somewhat common for egg material like the yolk to be laid internally in the abdomen. When it happens occasionally, the yolks can be absorbed over time. It’s only when the hen internally lays eggs faster than the eggs can be absorbed that it causes a problem.
When there is too much fluid or egg material in the coelomic cavity, it causes inflammation of the peritoneum. On the chance that the coelomic cavity remains sterile and does not develop an infection, the inflammation can be treated with anti-inflammatory medicines, and the egg peritonitis will not become fatal.
However, the egg material commonly creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Timely usage of antibiotic medication and drainage of the coelomic cavity can prevent the case from becoming fatal. However, when a bacterial infection starts and is allowed to progress to other vital organs throughout the body, it can become fatal.
Even if the initial egg peritonitis is treated and the hen survives the infection, the condition will more than likely return if the hen is allowed to continue laying eggs. That’s why some people may treat their bird with a hormonal treatment to stop ovulation or treat the bird with a salpingohysterectomy.
Final Thoughts About Egg Yolk Peritonitis
One of the best ways to gauge if your egg-laying hens are happy and healthy is to observe the quantity and quality of their eggs. If you begin to notice that a hen is not laying eggs or is laying thin, soft-shelled, or abnormally shaped eggs, then there might be reason to be concerned.
Thin, soft-shelled, or abnormally shaped eggs are one of the most obvious symptoms of egg peritonitis. If you notice the condition quickly, routine anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication treatments can help the bird become healthy again. However, if the condition has been allowed to progress too far, the bird may not survive.
A clean coop, healthy feed, and water, along with proper management of your birds throughout their maturation, can go a long way in terms of preventing egg peritonitis and enjoying the luxury of homemade cage-free eggs for a long time.
Want to learn more about raising chickens? Be sure to check out these articles!
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