Ascites in multiple hens

[Twoz10]

I have had 2 amber link hens pass away from ascites recently. They had labored breath, fluid retention, and green diarrhea. Now I have 2 more hens inside for ascites. What could cause this??

 

[azygous]

The most common cause is eating something toxic. Do you happen to have any showy yellow flowers in your yard that are in the pea family?

Another common cause is from infection from botulism bacteria. Have your hens been sick in the past after digging in compost?

Finally, ascites is common in fast growing meat birds that put an unusual strain on their blood circulation to keep up with the fast growth.

Any of these causes appear to fit?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have had 2 amber link hens pass away from ascites recently. They had labored breath, fluid retention, and green diarrhea. Now I have 2 more hens inside for ascites. What could cause this??

Welcome To BYC

All the same age, breed and came from the same place?
What do you feed?
Have they ever been sick from respiratory illness?
How old?

If you are in the US getting a necropsy for more information would be good, but sometimes that can be expensive, it depends on where you live. https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

That said, are you feeling fluid in the abdomen (Ascites) or have you done your own necropsy?
Some breeds can have reproductive issues and it's possible to lose a few in a short period of time especially the same breed from the same place. Diet might be a factor as well, it would be hard to know.

 

[Twoz10]

The most common cause is eating something toxic. Do you happen to have any showy yellow flowers in your yard that are in the pea family?

Another common cause is from infection from botulism bacteria. Have your hens been sick in the past after digging in compost?

Finally, ascites is common in fast growing meat birds that put an unusual strain on their blood circulation to keep up with the fast growth.

Any of these causes appear to fit?

They have mostly been inside because of the snow. So I don't think that any of these options are logical. However, I was thinking Mareks disease could be possible because one of the hens can't stand and seems to be blind. Could this be the cause of the ascites also?

 

[azygous]

It can take weeks, months to develop liver damage from consuming a toxic plant. If that is what caused the liver damage in your chickens, it happened in summer or even the previous spring.