Chicken with swollen bottom

[Audrey Watson]

Recently my Wyandotte chicken has had a swollen butt problem. She is about a year old and has never had any problems.

Above are some pictures of her condition(she’s very shy so they are not very good quality). She has had a swollen butt for around a week or two now and has started to walk upright and more slowly, almost like a penguin. She otherwise seems healthy and does everything else normally. Any ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

A swollen lower belly and waddling can be a sign of ascites (water belly) or a reproductive problem such as internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis. Ascites may be seen with liver failure or heart failure, and frequently is seen in reproductive disorders and cancer.

Does it feel soft or tight like a drum? What do her poops look like? Fluid buildup can cause labored breathing. If there is ascites you or a vet can withdraw fluid occasionally using a 14 or 16 gauge needle. I have had several hens with this type of enlarged abdomen, who have lived a couple of years without any type of treatment. Once one dies I try to do a necropsy to look for what was wrong.

 

[Audrey Watson]

A swollen lower belly and waddling can be a sign of ascites (water belly) or a reproductive problem such as internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis. Ascites may be seen with liver failure or heart failure, and frequently is seen in reproductive disorders and cancer.

Does it feel soft or tight like a drum? What do her poops look like? Fluid buildup can cause labored breathing. If there is ascites you or a vet can withdraw fluid occasionally using a 14 or 16 gauge needle. I have had several hens with this type of enlarged abdomen, who have lived a couple of years without any type of treatment. Once one dies I try to do a necropsy to look for what was wrong.

It feels pretty tight, and I compared it to our other Wyandotte to confirm. I listened to her breathing and do not hear any sounds of raspiness or labored breathing. I have not seen her poop yet but if I do soon I will update this thread. I have read about internal laying and how you can draw out the yoke with a needle, but I am not sure I trust myself to do that. If that is the case I may have a vet do it. Thank you so much!

 

[RosaB810]

It feels pretty tight, and I compared it to our other Wyandotte to confirm. I listened to her breathing and do not hear any sounds of raspiness or labored breathing. I have not seen her poop yet but if I do soon I will update this thread. I have read about internal laying and how you can draw out the yoke with a needle, but I am not sure I trust myself to do that. If that is the case I may have a vet do it. Thank you so much!

 

[RosaB810]

I just noticed that my 3 year old Bard has a hard belly. She is not acting abnormally. I picked her up to clean her back end as she had some poop on her feathers, and found she had poop stuck to her vent. She is not having trouble breathing either. I am not sure if she has been laying.

 

[Eggcessive]

It feels pretty tight, and I compared it to our other Wyandotte to confirm. I listened to her breathing and do not hear any sounds of raspiness or labored breathing. I have not seen her poop yet but if I do soon I will update this thread. I have read about internal laying and how you can draw out the yoke with a needle, but I am not sure I trust myself to do that. If that is the case I may have a vet do it. Thank you so much!

It is not yolk that you can draw out, but if they have ascites or water belly, you can withdraw the fluid that has accumulated. That would help to relieve the pressure, to help ease breathing and pain.

 

[Audrey Watson]

It is not yolk that you can draw out, but if they have ascites or water belly, you can withdraw the fluid that has accumulated. That would help to relieve the pressure, to help ease breathing and pain.

Ah ok. Thanks for the info. I have separated the chicken so I can see what her poop is like. Will update later.

 

[Audrey Watson]

Update: chicken has now started to lose feathers on her bottom.

 

[hispoptart]

Awe the poor thing, do you have a vet you can take her to?

 

[Audrey Watson]

Awe the poor thing, do you have a vet you can take her to?

Yes we had one come out, look below for all the info!