Ascites Draining

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen and her loss. I usually do a home necropsy on the ones I lose, to look at organs for anything unusual. Not everyone wants to do that, but if you do, taking pictures of the main abdominal organs and posting your findings can be very helpful.

 

[Eddie12109]

@speckledhen thank you for explaining it, did the draining sync with her fluid in the lungs? Like was it a coincidence that she died on her draining day or...?

 

[Eddie12109]

And she had two normal poops later in the night, like no yellow and it had a structure to it, a normal poop, she hasn’t had a normal poop in a few weeks. How could this have happened?

 

[speckledhen]

@speckledhen thank you for explaining it, did the draining sync with her fluid in the lungs? Like was it a coincidence that she died on her draining day or...?

And she had two normal poops later in the night, like no yellow and it had a structure to it, a normal poop, she hasn’t had a normal poop in a few weeks. How could this have happened?

I can't tell you with 100% certainty exactly what was happening in her body, but I've lost probably 15-16 hens to this type of stuff, most of them hatchery stock. The breeder stock does not seem to suffer with it nearly as much as hatchery hens do, better genetics. They can seem to get better right before they go down for the last time, though, I can tell you that. I've seen it a lot.
Like Eggsessive said, opening them up can be a good education for you. I've done that many times. It helps you see that there truly was nothing you could have done to save them.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear she died.

 

[micstrachan]

I am sorry she died, but agree there was nothing you could have done.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Sorry - I have been busy with all the property damage we sustained after Christmas. I am so sorry that you lost her... I don't know much about ascites other than it is a symptom of a larger problem and not an illness in itself. I don't think your draining it would have caused her death. Most chickens with that condition are terminally ill. It was probably her time to go. You did your best.

 

[Eddie12109]

What’s the difference between hatchery and breeder chickens?
Thank you @Wyorp Rock @micstrachan @Aunt Angus @Eggcessive and @speckledhen .. it means a lot to have had all of your help and support.
It was easier than Rihanna’s death since I was prepared (sort of) for it. Now I only have two hens left. Eddie who has lived in her own cage for a long time, because she can’t walk well. And Dev, who is living in the big coop. Eddie was completely bewildered being in that big cage. Tomorrow I will put Dev in the smaller cage, although it’s pretty small for two. Well not really. I will take a picture tomorrow.

 

[Eddie12109]

So if I try to put this together...
Something like reproductive issues or organ failure caused ascites, she lasted and fought it for awhile until it started to creep up into her lungs on that night?
If a minute before she died, she was walking, could it be true she suffocated to death? Or what happened there?

 

[Eddie12109]

So I will continue positing on this for now. Dev has been having these extremely watery poops once or twice a day and then some normal poops but then a mix between watery and normal.

She has been starting to have these poops more often. Any ideas?

I gave her baytril and safeguard the same time I was giving them to my ascites girl. I will have to look when but I’m guessing two weeks ago.