Ascites and internal laying - sharing my experience - Benedict's story

[ejctm]

Update - Well, without wishing to tempt fate, I think Bene has pulled through!

She laid a couple of no-shell eggs and then today laid the first egg with a shell - and it was huge! Of course I have to throw it because of the antibiotics but I bet it is a double yolker. This cannot have been the cause of the trouble because that was some time ago and she has laid eggs since it started. I think it is the start of her reproduction system getting back on track.

She is fine in herself - running around, pecking, eating, absolutely the picture of health (except for the water bulge, but that is the same as usual). I do not intend to put her through the stress and pain of draining it when it is the same size now as the past year.

I don't know whether the antibiotics did it, or the extra calcium in her food.

Or maybe she just realised she was needed, as her former ducklings whom she hatched and raised 2 years ago are seeking her comfort because I have rehomed their drake and they are bereft and lost without him, and keep hanging around Bene doing the head-bob thing. To be honest, she is ignoring their madness, but I like the theory that she rallied for her children!!

 

[arkansaschicks]

That is great!! Thank you so much for the news!! I would say just in case it was the extra calcium, keep it Please keep us updated!
I have confirmed that my two are laying so I don't think I'm not going to drain right now either unless I see the bottom grow.

 

[ejctm]

Thanks Arkansaschicks. I will be hoping both your and my hens are well in the medium term if not the long term now. Go chickens and their amazing constitutions!!

 

[CSisley]

Yay for Bene! Glad to hear that things worked out.

 

[ejctm]

Thanks csisley. I know in the long term it is not looking good, but for now she +is enjoying life !

 

[ValleyPoultryFarms]

That explained perfectly what happened to my RIR. I put her down sadly.

 

[TeamChaos]

Bene's situation sounds remarkably similar to my jersey giant, Raven, who has been dealing w/ this condition for 2 years now. I believe it it sterile, so I have chosen not to drain it, but rather when she gets pretty "gooey" (sneezing, raspy, bigger lump in abdomen) then I separate her from the flock and keep her some place cool with yogurt and hard boiled eggs. I know it's not a forever cure either, but I'll keep trying as long as she does. Best of luck!

 

[ejctm]

Thanks guys. Good luck with yours.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Is Benedict still doing good?

 

[ejctm]

She is still not quite right as a chicken should be, but very perky in herself and seems happy. She is laying no-shell eggs still despite the extra oyster shell, so not sure what else I can do about that. It is not all the time though but since all of their laying has got a bit sporadic recently I am not sure who is laying or not at the moment. I wonder whether her reproductive system is just out of whack temporarily or is breaking down in a permanent way. Her jelly belly is still the same size, and not impeding her so we have not tried to drain it.

While she is lively and enjoying life, then we will carry on taking care of her as we always have. Difficult decisions may come in the future.

She ran like greased lightning after a worm I tossed over the fence today to get there before anyone else, so there is nothing wrong with her mobility!

We have been fixing up the chicken coop over the last couple of weeks, revamped the inside, put new perches in, and a new nest box and painted the outside. Bene was as curious as a cat to see what was going on, poking her beak in to check out the changes, jumping up to examine the perches while I was still trying to screw them in. Chickens are so funny and amazing.

Thanks for asking btw Arkansaschick.