Chicken with water belly?

[Crowenest]

Hey. My chicken has been lethargic (slow moving and droopy) and separating from the flock, between her legs is swollen and feels squishy. She also has a pale face. May be completely unrelated but this morning I have a different chicken dying in a nest box. I noticed she was a little off last night and went out to check on the 2 this morning when I found her laid over and breathing heavy. Any help will be appreciated!

 

[azygous]

The one in the nest could be in danger of sudden death from low blood calcium or a stuck egg. In either case, the emergency treatment is one calcium tablet directly into the beak. Calcium citrate works quickest, so if you have to go to the store, get this.

The hen with the swollen belly may also have an egg issue if the swelling is mostly under the vent and behind the legs. Give the calcium tablet to her, too.

If the swelling is mostly between and in front of the legs, that is likely ascites and it's a sign of liver disease.

 

[Crowenest]

I got the pill but had to break it into pieces because the pill was so big. I had to fight her to get her to take them. She didn’t eat all the pieces. Should I try to give her more? She drinks water pretty good but doesn’t really eat a lot.

 

[azygous]

You might be scared to swallow a big pill, but I guarantee your chicken will have no problem with it. If your throat didn't have check valves, you would be able to swallow a pill as easily as a chicken can. They have an open chute directly from mouth to crop and the pill just slides downhill right into the crop.

 

[Crowenest]

Thank you!

 

[Crowenest]

She is still pale and keeps shaking her head every once in a while. When we took her outside to get some outside time she would forage but would lay down suddenly as if she needed a break and when she walks her bottom is lower to the ground. Is there anything else I can do?

 

[coach723]

How old is she, and do you know when she last laid? It sounds like probably a reproductive problem, infection, cancer, etc. Liver involvement is common with many of those, with fluid build up in the abdomen.

 

[Crowenest]

Maybe four to five years old. And we don’t know when she last laid. Since we’ve brought her in two days ago, she hasn’t laid.

 

[coach723]

Abdomen bloat is often a sign of reproductive problems. Also, digestion will slow or stop many times, resulting in crop problems. If her crop feels squishy or is not emptying overnight that can be an indication. 4 or 5 years old is a common age for it to happen. What do her droppings look like?

 

[Crowenest]

I just checked her bottom and it looks clumped and green. She’s not really eating.