Chicken with swollen abdomen

[Monarchfarm]

About 2 nights ago when I was locking my hens up for the night I noticed one sitting on the bottom of the coop. This was extremely unusual because they are always on their perches at night. I picked her up to check for injuries (I found none) but noticed her crop felt completely empty, but she was very heavy near her rear. She is about 3 years old and has never had any previous health problems. It’s been at least a week since she’s laid an egg, but it has also been really hot where I live. That first night I isolated her from the others and when I gave her food she ate it. Though today she’s only eaten a drank a little. At first I thought she was egg bound, but she wasn’t doing the penguin walk and I couldn’t feel any egg in her. She can walk a little, but is very slow. Her comb is flopped over more than unusual (she got into a fight a few months ago that damaged it and made it floppy). Normally she is a really hard chicken to handle, but she’s barely been putting up a fight. I have seen her poop multiple times, but it’s been much smaller than usual. Does anyone know what might be going on with her?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Sounds like ascites (aka water belly). A lot of really awful things can cause it. Is a vet an option?

 

[nuthatched]

It sounds like ascites or water belly. from what I gather, There's not much treatment besides draining but she will have to be put down eventually.

 

[Aunt Angus]

It sounds like ascites or water belly. from what I gather, There's not much treatment besides draining but she will have to be put down eventually.

Usually they do need euthanasia, but not always. If caught early enough and depending on what it is, there may be treatment that can save them.

 

[Monarchfarm]

Sounds like ascites (aka water belly). A lot of really awful things can cause it. Is a vet an option?

Unfortunately taking her to the vet is not an option.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Unfortunately taking her to the vet is not an option.

I understand. I just dropped $850 on my duck who has internal egg laying. Ouch.

You might try draining the fluid. A lot of folks do. Let me find the video folks post on BYC that shows you how.

 

[nuthatched]

Usually they do need euthanasia, but not always. If caught early enough and depending on what it is, there may be treatment that can save them.

I hope so, I can't say hens on here come back from it. What treat besides draining, is given?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Honestly, I googled it and got a gazillion videos. You might do the same. Draining won't cure what's happening, but it will make her feel a lil better.

I don't know what's causing it in your hen, but my duck was put on meloxicam and clavimox (anti-inflammatory and antibiotics). The vet seemed cautiously optimistic since infection hadn't set in, but I am not as hopeful, tbh. But it was worth a shot for my duck...

 

[Aunt Angus]

I hope so, I can't say hens on here come back from it. What treat besides draining, is given?

Depends on what's causing it. My duck got antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds. She might need surgery and hormone implants, too. There are a few on BYC who've made it. Hoping my Marmalade is one, but I don't feel great about it, tbh.

 

[Monarchfarm]

I understand. I just dropped $850 on my duck who has internal egg laying. Ouch.

You might try draining the fluid. A lot of folks do. Let me find the video folks post on BYC that shows you how.

I’m having trouble getting the right tools to drain it so I haven’t gotten the chance yet.
However whenever I see people describing what waterbelly feels like they say it feels like a water balloon and they have feather loss, but her swelling is a lot harder than that and she doesn’t have the feather loss.