Appetite loss but functioning?

[yellowputty]

We are worried and confused about our ~30 week old vaccinated and hybrid Maran. This is the third day where she has barely eaten anything (and although drinks, has taken in less liquids I would say) and is passing only urates. She's a big girl and usually wolfs down anything offered. I've tried, pellets, pellet 'porridge', treats, egg and yoghurt. Yesterday I isolated her from the others so she had time to eat and managed to get her to eat a little yoghurt. She seemed tired but she was acting normally otherwise... she laid, scratches and pecks. Before bed I even saw her eat some bugs which was promising, but this morning she was still off her food.

Today I was able to feed her some porridge while she was on the nest but that is it. Again, she laid and is scratching and pecking around - albeit slower than normal. I've been massaging her crop each day but it doesn't feel impacted to me and neither does it smell like sour crop. Neither is it extended in any way. We mistakenly fed them long grass a few days ago and so we are worried about a blockage. I felt between her legs (after she laid) and it feels fairly swollen and squidgy (in comparison to the others). Also, each time I applied pressure she made a single cluck noise.

So:

> Loss of appetite but eats just a little
> Drinks less
> Passing urates only - very watery
> No obvious crop issue
> Swollen between legs (I think) and clucks when touched
> Still 'active' - laying, scratching, pecking
> Generally more apathetic than usual, lying down and sleeping more
> Cob still same colour and upright

Any ideas? I can't get over how active she is still. If it was me, I'd be stationary and sleeping. Thank you.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

The swollen abdomen sounds like it may be something wrong with her liver, or water belly as it's commonly called. I hope it's not and her issues pass quickly! I hope she pulls through!

 

[yellowputty]

The swollen abdomen sounds like it may be something wrong with her liver, or water belly as it's commonly called. I hope it's not and her issues pass quickly! I hope she pulls through!

Oh dear, that sounds like an awful affliction. Thanks for the knowledge and the wishes CluckNDoodle. I keep thinking maybe she's eating behind my back (given her strength) but the lack of poop naturally suggests otherwise. I gave her an Epsom Salt bath earlier in the hope that might help any gut immobility but I have little faith. I'll keep a steady eye on her and hope that things spontaneously improve.

 

[yellowputty]

I just wanted to follow this up in the event anyone finds this useful in the future. I'm very happy to say our dear Moana is back to normal after last night passing two large poops which were made entirely of grass! After three whole days of not eating, as soon as they passed she was running around and fighting off the others for her pellets and a couple of treats.

We've learned our lesson regarding feeding them long fibrous grasses and feel lucky that the blockage was temporary. Thanks to the whole BYC community for all the useful posts I read while trying to diagnose her... I am at least more knowledgeable about chicken anatomy and health now!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I'm so glad she's doing better and that it was as simple as a little bout of constipation. Lol