Not sure what it is!!!!!!

Lovethembuffs

Chirping
7 Years
May 24, 2016
37
33
99
Prineville, Oregon USA
Hello Everyone!! I have a RR Red hen that has a distended belly. Don't know that she has been pooping. I tried to vent here to see if she had egg block. Used gloves and my little finger. Very difficult to enter her vent. Did get some blood on the tip if the glove when extracted. She waddles when she walks. Her comb is still in good condition. Her belly is very squishy.

Can some please advise if you have an idea and what to do for treatment. Not sure a vet is available since this is Memorial Day weekend.

Thanks so much for reading my post!!!
 
Has she recently been laying eggs? If her lower belly is swollen, she could be laying internally, have egg yolk peritonitis, or possibly have ascites (fluid in the belly.) Cancer is also common in hens. I would bring her inside to spend the night in a basket or crate to keep an eye on her. Give her a calcium tablet, Tums, or ground up egg shells for extra calcium, in a bit of yogurt or egg. Try giving her a warm shallow bath and massage her belly to help pass the possible egg. Watch to make sure she is passing droppings. If she is suffering from one of those ailments, there might not be much you can do other than to help make her comfortable, and get her to eat and drink.
 
Thank you so much for your reply. I don't think that she is laying and she had poopie butt bit it was mostly dry. She seems to be comfortable for now. I will keep you updated on her progress through this thread.
 
Sunday Morning. I have given her a warm bath and massaged her belly for about 20 minutes. Her belly is not soft is like hardness of a soft ball. She never pooped in the tub but when I was through and damp dried her with towels then sat on the floor with her and dried her with the hair dryer she pooped in the towel. It wasn't a big one but it was something. She was very good about being dried with the hair dryer, I think she liked it, I took her back out into the pen and put her at the food. She is eating some and drinking. She is very uncomfortable though when trying to lay down. I feel so bad for her. She is moving around sometimes in the sun some in the shade.. I plan on putting in a call to the vet on Tuesday to see if he can help her. Thanks again for your help.
 
So I took a chance. I read on one of the forum threads about the procedure a vet did to drain the fluid from the abdomen of a chicken who had water belly. I did use alcohol to clean the area around her vent and an 18 gauge needle was the smallest I had. And it worked!! I drew over 350cc of clear yellow fluid from her abdomen. She was very cooperative and was looking at her belly when I set her down. I will keep a close eye on her from now on as I also read once they have water belly they continue to do so. I glad I was able to get her to feel more comfortable but sad it will be a reoccurring situation.
. I so appreciate this forum with all its participation to help keep our feathered friends healthy and happy.
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Great job! I have never had to treat a hen with ascites before, and it sounds like you have really helped her to relieve pressure and to help her breathe easier.
 
It's been a busy week and our weather has turned off very hot here in the Central Oregon High Desert. My four y o RR Red hen with ascites is holding her own. She still has some fluid retention but it has not returned to what it was. I check her every day and measure with the cup of my hand as to whether her fluid retention increases. I did not want to disturb her again for awhile. I did read not to remove all the fluid as it may put her into shock but, I do think she is carrying more fluid than she needs to be so I may try removing a bit of fluid one day this week. She is eating and drinking and moving with the flock. Not sure if she is laying I haven't been able to catch her in the nesting boxes. I noticed another hen limping and it seems I have a case of bumble foot also. Possibly from jumping down from the roosts. I treated her and she seems to be walking better with treatment. More later. Take care everyone!!
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Glad it worked out. What length and guage of needle did you use and how far did you insert it? Where did you insert it? I had one with this problem but I don't think I got enough fluid out. I tried an insulin needle and had read not to take out more than 50 CC at a time. I don't believe that was correct. There are also several membranes inside that each fill up. Mine didn't make it and I think she might have if I had taken more fluid out.
 
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