Cloudy water belly

[Sighqueen]

I have had two chickens die within the last 3 months of quick onset of water belly that was cloudy. They got weak, wouldn’t eat or drink. No respiratory issues. I raised them from chicks and they were both about 2 1/2 yrs old. I had their fecal tested to make sure they didn’t have anything infectious which they didn’t. Their food is good, water fresh and living conditions are top notch. I don’t know what I can do to prevent this from happening to my remaining 3 chickens. Anyone have any experience like this?

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m sorry for your loss. Water belly is usually a liver issue and side effect of another disorder. Those include egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, fatty liver disease, and especially in meat birds, heart failure. It would help to get a necropsy by your state vet or do you own at home to look for one of those diseases.

 

[Sighqueen]

I took my girls in to a vet that sees chickens which I was told issues could be genetics, infection, etc but nothing about prevention. I’m an RN and try to fix problems and have been reading until I’m dizzy! I had a chicken in the past with water belly. I tapped her when it was necessary…got clear liquid which is what I expected. She lived about 2 yrs with it. I knew it was liver. My two recently had brownish cloudy fluid which I knew was quite different. And more deadly. I’ve looked around to see what could possibly be the cause but can’t figure it out. I know there has been soft shells which I was trying to treat so that’s why I thought a retaining yolk in the fluid could be the culprit. It’s like they don’t retain enough calcium even though it’s in the feed and offered freely. I’m stuck.

 

[Sighqueen]

There are two places I can take them for necropsies. If it happens again, I will do that. The vet won’t send them in. I would have to take them. I chose this time to have her watery diarrhea tested to make sure there wasn’t anything contagious that I should be aware of with my remaining girls.