3 year old hen with belly filled with fluid

[silkiemother]

okay first of all she has had this for 6 to 9 months since she last molted.and her belly has gotten slightly bigger since then and she is acting happy and even though she is not laying she will go and sit in the nesting box even when there is no eggs in there and ocasionally her comb will be pale and when you flip her on her back she has a hard time breathing and when she struggles if you are holding her a milky fluid will come out of her rear and all of this happened right after she molted.also this is making poop build up on her rear and she has a swath of feathers missing straight down under her rear.and she is not slowed down in the least by this.does anyone know what this could be?
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[coach723]

Reproductive issues like internal laying, salpingitis and some cancers are not uncommon in laying hens over 2 years old. The swelling in the abdomen could be matter build up from internal laying or salpingitis, or could be fluid from ascites. It puts pressure on the internal organs which can make digestion difficult, can make it harder for them to poo which causes dirty rears, and the pressure can cause breathing difficulties. For most of these the long term prognosis is poor and medically not much can usually be done. I leave mine with the flock until they are obviously unwell, isolating themselves, not eating well, not doing normal chicken things, and then I don't let them suffer. I'm sorry, that is not good news, but my best guess as to what is going on.

 

[silkiemother]

thanks for the info she is my special one and you should see her she is the first one out the door and usually follows me to do the other birds.and could I possibly drain it?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings silkiemother,

It seems that your hen is dealing with a reproductive disorder, which is causing ascites to accumulate in her abdomen area. The ascites fluid will cause swelling and make it difficult for her to walk and run. There are many disorders that can cause these fluids to develop, as, this is the body's way of ridding itself of toxins.

Common disorders include: salpingitis, which is an infection in the oviduct, egg yolk peritonitis, internal laying, tumors of the oviduct, or even in other parts of the body. A CBC run by a vet will show if the hen's liver is compromised, if there is a possible tumor, etc. An ultrasound can also be used to determine the presence of tumors, or obstruction. The vet can palpate the abdomen and also tell you if the hen has a hernia, which is also a common result of ascites.

There are treatments for the ascites, but, the cause has to be eliminated in order to stop the production of ascites. Spaying the hen, or having a vet put in an implant to stop the hen from laying eggs, are the only real cures for this symptom of ascites due to reproductive disorder.

This is really a huge health subject to cover in a simple post. However, I can tell you there treatments and therapies to help your hen have a better quality of life. Be aware, that this condition will shorten your hen's life span.

There are dangers for a hen with ascite swelling. Jumping up to, or, down from high places, such as perches or walls, can cause her to rupture. Death will follow, but the hen should be immediately euthanized if this happens. You can adjust the perches, and put in steps up in the yard to accommodate the hen to prevent injury.

This condition may also affect the hen's circulation/heart function, as you have already observed. It's really good that your hen is eating and drinking. This makes her a good candidate for treatments that will rid her of the ascites.

Treatments and Therapies:

Some keepers have a vet drain the hen of ascite fluid with a syringe. I don't do this, or recommend it. Instead, I encourage the hen's body to rid itself of the ascite fluid by improving liver and kidney function.

• Use - Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera 80 Detox, 1 Tablespoon per half gallon of water for 5-7 days. The dandelion herb, will cause the hen to produce urine, which will release the ascites. (Don't be alarmed that the hen is releasing urine with urates. This is ridding the toxins.) The milk thistle herb will strengthen and support liver and kidney function. Other herbs will help to further detox the hen's body.

• After Lily of the Desert, or instead of Lily of the Desert, use Liquid Hepato for Pets, supplement to further support the liver and kidneys. This supplement has milk thistle and B vitamins. And is the best I have used on my chickens. I also used it on a rooster with congested lungs, he is currently in robust health. Administer .3 mL, every 12 hours during severe symptoms. Can be given with oral syringe or squirted on food.

• Administer - 40 mg. of aspirin, every 12 hours to reduce inflammation and reduce ascites. (A low dose aspirin, 81 mg. tablet can be split in half for a 40 mg. dose.) Treat for 7 days, then, stop for 2 days. Follow dose with food to buffer the intestines. Never give if there is active bleeding. I will usually use the aspirin therapy for about 3-4 weeks.

• Epsom Salt soaks are beneficial to clean and detox the hen. They are also relaxing for the hen with extreme swelling. I don't do them more than 2 times a week.

• Keep the hen's vent clean by flushing with an irrigation bottle filled with soapy water. A mild dog shampoo like gentle oatmeal, is good. This will prevent vent gleet or even fly strike.

• Some conditions can be improved by administering an antibiotic for 10 days. If the hen has diarrhea, an antibiotic will be helpful. I prefer Doxycycline tablet form, 50 mg., once a day. If a tumor is compromising the hen's immune system, the antibiotic will be helpful.

• Immune boosting herbs like echinacea and ashwaganda, sprinkled on food is very helpful. I now prefer ashwaganda, because it is not as bitter as echinacea.

• Feed fresh greens and fruits with dark skin for the antioxidants.

• Keep stress low.

These are my healing strategies for hens with ascites, you should use at least 3 to improve and benefit the health of your hen. As the hen improves, she will require less care.

Will she be 100% cured? No, not unless you get the implant or have her spayed. These disorders are the cost of breeding for eggs. I've had many hens develop ascites, from different causes. Some live on for another year or more, one died a month after developing ascites. A necropsy revealed her overall health was excellent, but, she had developing tumors on her ovary. Her death resulted from a collapsed egg in the coelomic cavity. Her eggs were not passing through the oviduct, instead dropping into the hen's body (internal laying). So she died from Egg Yolk Peritonitis, this is also why I now administer an antibiotic as part of my treatment strategy.

In the end, all you can do, is your best. Your best will depend on your available resources. Like I said this is a huge subject, some keepers will cull these hens. But, my hens are pets and not livestock. However, if there is a circumstance where the hen is suffering, then, I will euthanize. I have only had to do that once out of 6 hens with ascites.

These are my thoughts on your hen's issue, based on my experience. I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless

 

[silkiemother]

thanks for the helpful info hen pen jem.I am going to try to convince my dad to take her to the vet soon because I would be lost without her.

 

[coach723]

I've also used the Lily of the Valley Aloe Detox with good results, albeit temporary results. I had one hen that I would need to use it about every 4 to 6 weeks with.
I've never tried draining the fluid. I know it's possible, but I've felt that when it reached a point that it was necessary, then it was really time to consider ending her suffering based on the progression of her illness. I do know that if you do drain, and too much fluid is drained, or too quickly, it can result in shock and can be fatal, so it doesn't come without risks. I have a bird with salpingitis right now, very advanced. I expected to lose her this spring, but she's still with me, still doing mostly normal chicken things, just much slower, and I'm pretty careful with her. She gets a good looking over every day, I've known she was ill for almost 18 months now. So depending on the issue they can live for quite some time, it's very individual to each bird and what their specific condition is. Best wishes for you and your girl.

 

[silkiemother]

thanks and is there a certain time when they slow down?mine is the fastest in the flock and she has been like this for a while

 

[silkiemother]

is this contagious?

 

[coach723]

I've lost several to reproductive issues, while there are enough similarities to know that's what's going on, survival can vary greatly. Every bird is different, every case is different, so there really is no way to predict. It's best to just keep a close eye on them for changes. They tend to hide illness very well, so it can be subtle. I've had some live for quite some time, I've lost some fairly quickly. If you do have a vet that can help, they may be able to more pin-point the issue and give you a better idea. It's unlikely that this is contagious. It's more likely simply a factor of a reproductive tract that is in high gear most of the time, along with genetics.

 

[silkiemother]

if it helps she is a leghorn