Feeling discouraged and could really use some help. Pullet has swollen abdomen.

[CJS Flock]

Hi all. I could really use some help. I’ve had my flock for nearly a year after having left my last one in another state. I never had issues with my last flock and this time I feel like a failure since I’ve had nothing but loss. I thought maybe it was how they were hatched/raised and they had all passed with different symptoms. I decided to only by hatchery chicks that would be vaccinated. Yesterday my six month old EE (from Meyers) was in the nesting box for nearly two hours. I thought she was trying to lay her first egg since I haven’t actually seen her lay yet. Then today she was just standing around and didn’t squat like she normally does when I talk to her. I picked her up and her abdomen felt really swollen. I brought her in and soaked her which she was not real interested in, gave her some crushed calcium made into a paste which I soaked bread in. I held her for a while, she was calm, let her dry and put her back out. I watched her peck a little but not at much other than the oyster shell. Fast forward a few hours, brought her back in since her abdomen felt even fuller. Soaked her, did the vent check and felt nothing, but she did poop or discharge something. I put her in chicken ICU. I just don’t know what else to do. Has anyone else had terrible luck with a flock? Any suggestions on what may be going on with her and what I can do? Posting pictures of her area and what came out. I have an olive egger who has been acting weird for a few weeks, stopped laying and has nasty green poop. It was recommended that I give her fish mox to see if there is an infection to clear up and if not it may be an internal laying issue. That should arrive tomorrow. I do everything I can for bio security, feed nutrena layer pellets, let them free range in a contained area, give probiotics twice a week, check for parasites daily (when I hold them), spray the coop once a week during cleaning with permethrin and am just disheartened that my ladies are getting sick. Please help. Thank you!

 

[deidreg]

I wish I had answers, though some more knowledgeable folks should be able to help. I have a young flock (my first) though one is an older hen, about 5 years old. She's not eating much and also has a poopy butt I clean up daily. I gave her some mashed chicken feed and mealworms and she ate them. But I assume she is on a slow slide. As long as she seems content, I'm happy to take care of her.

Of course none of this helps you, but I applaud you for taking great care of your girls.

 

[aart]

Posting pictures of her area and what came out.

Was that partially solid?

When I have a bird that is acting off I first isolate to assess digestive system.
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.