Brahma with warm, swollen abdomen.

[Jax12Ts]

For the past couple of days I have noticed that my 2 yr old Brahma hen has had a warm, swollen abdomen. At first I thought she was egg bound, but I believe she has been laying eggs since I still get the same amount I normally get in the same spread out places in the coop. I felt the belly of my other brahma today and it felt normal. None of my other 10 chickens have this problem. In addition to her abdomen problem , her feathers are patchy, maybe being picked at but I have not seen any of the others go at her. On her stomach there is also a lack of feathers. I have no clue what’s wrong with her, but she doesn’t seem to be getting better or worse.

 

[Jax12Ts]

Ascites can be from a number of different things. If she is laying, that’s a good sign that it’s not a laying disorder. However, it could be from some other organ problem or infection. Does she have a bulge just below her vent, or is it more like a fullness down between her legs?

The swelling is more between her legs and a little bit behind her legs. It’s hard to describe but I would describe it as where an egg would be.

 

[Jax12Ts]

Also, can you share what they eat?

They eat Puriana Egg Layer Pellets and every other day they get some scratch and mealworms. They are in a coop, not free range.

 

[Jax12Ts]

Hmmm… I hate to tell you this, but that body language sure looks like a reproductive disorder to me. I think you need to determine whether this bird is laying. Have you seen any soft/rubber eggs or fleshy looking things in the nest box?

I haven’t seen any soft eggs, but I’m not 100% sure she is laying eggs.

 

[Jax12Ts]

Is she eating/drinking o.k.?
Active?
Any lethargy?
Can you spread out the feathers and take a photo of what the abdomen looks like?

Is she molting?

She is drinking and eating, not as active as previous weeks but she may be molting as her feathers are missing. I will take a picture tomorrow morning since it’s dark out here.

 

[micstrachan]

Ascites can be from a number of different things. If she is laying, that’s a good sign that it’s not a laying disorder. However, it could be from some other organ problem or infection. Does she have a bulge just below her vent, or is it more like a fullness down between her legs?

 

[micstrachan]

Also, can you share what they eat?

 

[micstrachan]

You might want to back off on the treats. I know they’re so cute, and it’s really fun to see them enjoy them. However, unfortunately, they can lead to fat on their organs which can actually result in organ failure and death. In particular, fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome.

Does the swelling feel like liquid? Or more like soft tissue?

 

[Jax12Ts]

You might want to back off on the treats. I know they’re so cute, and it’s really fun to see them enjoy them. However, unfortunately, they can lead to fat on their organs which can actually result in organ failure and death. In particular, fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome.

Does the swelling feel like liquid? Or more like soft tissue?

More like inflamed soft tissue I would say.

 

[Jax12Ts]