Chicken has squishy swollen abdomen

[AChartier]

Hi my 9 month old Buff Orpington has a very swollen and squishy abdomen. She hasn’t pooped in a day. She’s sort of eating and drinking. Can’t scratch or jump up and is sitting down a lot. Tonight her breathing is very labored. Her vent is clear and my husband felt for an egg up in and said it was clear at least two inches inside. We had her sit in a warm bath and also gave her some electrolytes with a syringe. Her color is good and her eyes look clear. The other hens are fine. They only eat layer feed and yard vegetation. I don’t have a vet. I found a number tonight for one that will see chickens will try to call in the morning. Any ideas what I can do in the meantime? Thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

Is her crop empty and flat, or is it full, hard, doughy, or puffy soft? Does it empty by morning? Is her lower belly between her legs where it is enlarged and squishy? That can be a sign of ascites (water belly.) It can make it harder to breathe, and push on the abdominal organs making digestion slow. You can take her to a vet, or you can try to withdraw the yellow fluid from her belly with an 18 gauge needle after disinfecting the skin well. If there is not fluid, then she may have something else going on. Internal laying, liver disease, or heart failure can lead to water belly.

Does she lay eggs? Is her tail position up or down? Is she walking normally? Can you post any pictures of her?

 

[AChartier]

Is her crop empty and flat, or is it full, hard, doughy, or puffy soft? Does it empty by morning? Is her lower belly between her legs where it is enlarged and squishy? That can be a sign of ascites (water belly.) It can make it harder to breathe, and push on the abdominal organs making digestion slow. You can take her to a vet, or you can try to withdraw the yellow fluid from her belly with an 18 gauge needle after disinfecting the skin well. If there is not fluid, then she may have something else going on. Internal laying, liver disease, or heart failure can lead to water belly.

Does she lay eggs? Is her tail position up or down? Is she walking normally? Can you post any pictures of her?

 

[AChartier]

Is her crop empty and flat, or is it full, hard, doughy, or puffy soft? Does it empty by morning? Is her lower belly between her legs where it is enlarged and squishy? That can be a sign of ascites (water belly.) It can make it harder to breathe, and push on the abdominal organs making digestion slow. You can take her to a vet, or you can try to withdraw the yellow fluid from her belly with an 18 gauge needle after disinfecting the skin well. If there is not fluid, then she may have something else going on. Internal laying, liver disease, or heart failure can lead to water belly.

Does she lay eggs? Is her tail position up or down? Is she walking normally? Can you post any pictures of her?

Her lower belly is the area of concern. I don’t think she’s been laying but she’s pushing occasionally like she’s trying. Her tail position is down mostly. She’s walking very slowly with a waddle. Sitting a lot and not very interested. Her breathing is labored and sometimes her mouth is open. Her vent is clear and my husband didn’t feel anything 2 inches inside of it. Vets are closed today but I’ve emailed several in my area asking if they care for chickens. I think her crop is soft, no part on her feels hard. Other 4 hens seem ok.

 

[Eggcessive]

You may want to try and withdraw some fluid from her abdomen with an 18 gauge needle and syringe from a feed store. It is not without risk, but getting yellow fluid out would confirm water belly (ascites.) That can relieve pressure, pain, and make it easier to breathe. Here is a video that may help:

 

[Eggcessive]

Read post 42 for good pictures of a hen with ascites:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-5

 

[MaddChickens]

I have a hen who has a similar problem, except for two things. One, she has had a swollen abdomen for a couple of weeks, and two, she lays eggs and poops frequently. Is this something drastic like cancer, or water belly, or do you think she is just fat? I had this hen since day two of her life, so she's pretty important to me.

 

[ladysuggs]

I have a hen who has a similar problem, except for two things. One, she has had a swollen abdomen for a couple of weeks, and two, she lays eggs and poops frequently. Is this something drastic like cancer, or water belly, or do you think she is just fat? I had this hen since day two of her life, so she's pretty important to me.

I know this is an old post but did you ever figure it out? I have a hen with a swollen abdomen but she acts fine and is still laying eggs. I'm pretty attached to her as well.