Water belly? Please help - much loved chicken

[aribubbs]

Hello,

I’d really appreciate advice and help on our very much loved chicken, Shadow.

I thought she may be egg bound but after giving her an Epsom salt bath and calcium, think she has water belly. She is so well cared for and lives on an organic, balanced, complete diet and I don’t believe it can be anything environmental.

We’ll be distraught if that is her diagnosis. The vets aren’t open for me to get help so I’m hoping this wonderful community and any experts with experience can validate that.

We’ll take her to the vet as soon as possible and I believe from what I’ve read, the kindest thing would be to put her down.

Thank you for your time to reply

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she able to hold her head up normally? Her lower belly does appear enlarged, and that could be from salpingitis and egg yolk peritonitis, ascites/water belly, or cancer. It is hard to know which one is happening, but all of them usually have a bad outcome eventually. There is no cure. Does her belly feel spongy or firm? Is she having any labored breathing? Some people try to drain some fluid from the abdomen with a18 gauge needle and syringe after disinfecting the sight. That can confirm water belly if you get yellow fluid. It is not without risk of infection or shock and death in rare occasions. I don’t usually drain mine, preferring to keep them as comfortable as possible until they die or I put them down. I always like to open the abdomen after death to do a brief necropsy, and if you do so, post pictures of the major organs and findings. Here in post 66 of the thread below are good pictures of draining a hen:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-7