I noticed on Saturday that my one year old silkie hen had a very swollen abdomen, I presume ascites, with a palpable egg like structure in her abdomen. She is currently showing no symptoms of egg binding besides the swelling and “egg” like structure in her abdomen, otherwise is eating and drinking just fine, and is honestly the most lively of my hens. The structure feels like a large egg, and moves somewhat in the abdomen. She does not seem bothered by it being touched. I gave her a warm water bath, which seemed to reduce some swelling and I massaged the abdomen area, but never could get the egg up to the cloaca, and also did not want to risk harming her more, if it is indeed an egg. I have epsom salt coming tomorrow. For now, she is separated and warm. It seems like egg binding, but she is not showing the common symptoms I have seen with that, so it seems like it could be internal laying, but isn’t that usually unformed eggs? I guess it could be a tumor, but feels very very egg like. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Attaching photos of her abdomen after her bath.
Attaching photos of her abdomen after her bath.
