Buff with large belly

[BuffyandBella]

Ok....my buff has a swollen belly and she sits there straining like having to have bm...she has white poop from her rectum....what is wrong and what can I do ....

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she? Has she been laying eggs? Could she be egg bound? Can you put on a rubber glove, and lubricate 1 finger, and feel inside for a stuck egg or obstruction? What kind of diet has she been eating? White in the droppings is urine or urates. Older chickens can suffer from internal laying, egg yolk peritonitis, or ascites (fluid in the belly) and the belly may appear full and spongy, or tight.

 

[BuffyandBella]

She is 3 years old...has been laying....she has been eating chicken feed plus greens, mealy worms and oyster shell at intervals...if I digitally examine her, what do I feel for and can I extract anything to relieve her discomfort....abdomen is tight...walks with a waddle.... Thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

You may feel nothing in there or there could be an egg or obstruction. Lubrication of her vent may also help her pass droppings. You can also try 1/2 tsp of castor oil or molasses to see if that helps her pass droppings. She could have an internal problem such as kidney or liver disease or ascites. Eating grasses can cause obstruction. Many problems with sick chickens can be diagnosed until one does a necropsy after death unfortunately. Sometimes we have to guess and treat possible problems. Is she passing any green or brown droppings along with the white urates? Here is a picture of a hen with ascites (fluid in the belly):

photo by casportpony