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Look for casportpony in this section..posts a lot of really helpful stuff...that's where I would go forSEASONED ADVICE.
Ok, thank you!
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Look for casportpony in this section..posts a lot of really helpful stuff...that's where I would go forSEASONED ADVICE.
It doesn't look like ascites to me. The ascites I have seen fills up their bellies like water balloons, those you can drain. This is what it might look like is it were ascites.
I did have a rooster that looked like your hen, he lived for many years with the bulge, but when he died, I cut him open and his liver was there in that bulge... I'm not even sure how that's possible, but it was his liver. I've also necropsied a few hens that had large fat deposits there. Don't know anything about chicken hernias as I've never seen one. Not saying they don't exist, just that I know nothing about them.
If she's not losing weight and her poop looks normal, don't worry about it since there isn't much you could do without a vet. Now might be a good time to start her on a worming program with something like Safeguard or Valbazen.
-Kathy
Almost impossible to say how long her life expectancy might be since we really don't know what is going on in there. I had a hen a few years back with a bulgy rear end similar to that, it was not ascites and the vet suggested some type of hernia where internal organs may have dropped down into the pocket, like what Casportpony described. We did not do surgery because of the expense involved, the potential difficulty involved and not knowing exactly what we were going to find in there if we did open her up. She lived for three years before suddenly loosing weight and passing away.
I would probably just let this hen live out her life as long as she doesn't appear to be in discomfort. As long as she's out and about as usual, eating and drinking etc. I'd just let her be. If she starts acting sickly you'll know it's time to put her down. As far as a sling.... I don't see what it would hurt to try. If it doesn't work you have your answer. Good luck with her.
Quote: I would *not* stick a needle in there! Doing so could puncture whatever that lump is and that could lead to a fatal infection.
-Kathy
I almost lanced the lump of that rooster 'cause I thought that maybe was an abscess, so glad I didn't!I agree with Kathy completely, I would NOT stick a needle in there since this does not look like a classic case of ascites. If organs have dropped down in there who knows what you might stick with a needle. In this case, short of veterinary intervention, it's best to just let her be and see how she does.
I would *not* stick a needle in there! Doing so could puncture whatever that lump is and that could lead to a fatal infection.
-Kathy
I agree with Kathy completely, I would NOT stick a needle in there since this does not look like a classic case of ascites. If organs have dropped down in there who knows what you might stick with a needle. In this case, short of veterinary intervention, it's best to just let her be and see how she does.