Compton

[Compton]

Have just killed sick hen pale comb, lost weight, looking very dejected. On opening her up found that she was full of water. Her intestines were enlarged and full of darkish firmish fecies, her gizzard slightly small but full of normal grit and food. Her heart was VERY tiny. No food in her crop. Living in very large building, very large garden run. Layers pellets ad lib, household scraps am and wheat pm. Plenty of clean water, grit, Don’t think they have worms, fleas or mites. Have kept hens for over 70 years. But think I have some more going the same Way. All looking pale faced. Have been laying really well and still getting 18/20 eggs daily from 30. Comments please

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Have just killed sick hen pale comb, lost weight, looking very dejected. On opening her up found that she was full of water. Her intestines were enlarged and full of darkish firmish fecies, her gizzard slightly small but full of normal grit and food. Her heart was VERY tiny. No food in her crop. Living in very large building, very large garden run. Layers pellets ad lib, household scraps am and wheat pm. Plenty of clean water, grit, Don’t think they have worms, fleas or mites. Have kept hens for over 70 years. But think I have some more going the same Way. All looking pale faced. Have been laying really well and still getting 18/20 eggs daily from 30. Comments please

Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.
Did you happen to take any photos of what you saw?

What did the liver look like?

She was full of water, this is a symptom called Ascites which can be associated with organ (heart/liver) failure and/or reproductive disorders.

How old are the hens that are not well? Any new chickens?

If you have several that are not well and you think they wont' make it, it would be a good idea to have your state lab do a necropsy/diagnostics. Depending on where you live this may be a free service all the way up to expensive, so you'd just have to call your lab to find out.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. What color was the fluid in the belly—yellow, amber, or clear and colorless? Was it thin or thick? If you took any pictures of the organs, please share them. The liver color could be important, whether it was pale, putty colored, tan, or a normal red.

 

[nuthatched]

Is the heart was small, it could have been a defect.