Egg laying and ascites?

[Eddie12109]

Hi everyone,
I have an 8 year old hen who lays eggs and she seems to be getting ascites... is this possible?
also all of older hens seem to be getting ascites... is this uncommon.. I have 4 hens with it right now.

 

[Eggcessive]

Ascites has been a common finding in some of my old hens that I have performed necropsies on after dying. Ascites is caused by heart failure in some cases, and liver failure secondary to reproductive disorders, liver disease, and cancer. Yellow fluid can be withdrawnnwith an 18 gauge needle to confirm ascites. Sometimes they might look full in the lower belly due to being overweight or from lash egg material inside the abdomen. Some people or their vets can remove fluid at intervals to relieve pressure and ease breathing. Infection or death can sometimes occur, so it is not without risk.

 

[Eddie12109]

Thank you for that information! So it would be possible if an older egg laying hen got it?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have an 8 year old hen who lays eggs and she seems to be getting ascites... is this possible?

As stated by the other poster.. possible yes.. although it's caused congestive heart failure and fluid pulling can be one of the signs.. kidney malfunction and general organ failure with AGE are always possible.

ALL 4.. at the same time.. NO that's not normal.. and might think of it as more of a fat plug than water belly. Which MIGHT be normal on 4 older hens.. I promise my tummy ain't in the same condition in my 40's as it was in my teens. So this is where YOUR assessment comes in..

Laying eggs still.. all 4 tubby.. SOUNDS like age, *possibly combined with feed routine*.. which ALSO could contribute to ascites long term.

If it IS ascites in all ladies at the same time.. I would question secondary cause of infection causing it to manifest simultaneously...

Or consider 4 ladies all living until 8 years old AND still laying is quite fantastic!

And I wanna know what breed, where from, standard feed routine including treats and supplements, climate, etc.. post pics of the birds!

In other words, it doesn't sound like ascites (to me SO far).. is there any labored breathing, wheezing, lethargy, that CAN be another symptom of organ failure?? Or is breathing seem normal? Anyone standing around hunched up and under the weather or hiding/isolating/ignoring treat time? Any FUNKY droppings? Ever see a lash egg? All four ladies lay when not in molt?

Hoping they're just "healthy" ladies with a little room to spare if the apocalypse suddenly hits!

 

[Eggcessive]

I suppose, but I have not had a hen that old, laying with it. Here is some info about draining a hen with ascites:

 

[Eddie12109]

ALL 4.. at the same time.. NO that's not normal.. and might think of it as more of a fat plug than water belly. Which MIGHT be normal on 4 older hens.. I promise my tummy ain't in the same condition in my 40's as it was in my teens. So this is where YOUR assessment comes in..

it could be possible that its not ascites, one has the duck walk but two just have it hanging down and not going outwards so that is what it could be.

 

[Eddie12109]

Laying eggs still.. all 4 tubby.. SOUNDS like age, *possibly combined with feed routine*.. which ALSO could contribute to ascites long term.

If it IS ascites in all ladies at the same time.. I would question secondary cause of infection causing it to manifest simultaneously...

Or consider 4 ladies all living until 8 years old AND still laying is quite fantastic!

And I wanna know what breed, where from, standard feed routine including treats and supplements, climate, etc.. post pics of the birds!

im sorry for the misunderstanding... i only have one 8 year old who lays eggs and the other three have retired from that haha.. It would be INCREDIBLE if i had four oldies laying but only one. Two of my ascites girls are 8 years old and the other one who has the duck walk is 6 so it could be that my three 8 year olds just have some extra.

The 8 year laying is my absolute favorite hen!! She is a black sex link and has managed to live through maggots and heat stroke at age 7 and has a walking problem and can still Walk to lay her eggs and loves talking to me... she literally growls or purrs every time i say her name.. she is even my username ... even though she is a girl Her name is Eddie haha
i live in Florida so all of my hens have some trouble breathing that i still try to treat them for.

 

[Eddie12109]

In other words, it doesn't sound like ascites (to me SO far).. is there any labored breathing, wheezing, lethargy, that CAN be another symptom of organ failure?? Or is breathing seem normal? Anyone standing around hunched up and under the weather or hiding/isolating/ignoring treat time? Any FUNKY droppings? Ever see a lash egg? All four ladies lay when not in molt?


so out of my 4 ascites girls here is what is going on:
we have Eddie who has labored breathing but that happened before any suspicion of ascites
we have a red egg production who is 8 years old and has had vent gleet and that is it... she doesn’t have labored breathing or a duck walk it just hangs like when you feel along her stomach and keel bone there is a drop to it like ascites but nothing outwards.
There is another 8 year old who has the same hanging and no duck walk but does have some labored breathing but it seems that she has always had a breathing problem.
lastly, there is one girl who hasn’t been eating much and has mild scaly leg mites which are almost gone and she seems to be suffering from ascites because she has A duck walk and a loss of appetite. Also I believe she has a tumor to her left side of her body, it is very hard and seems to be a tumor, i have thought of EYP but I’m not sure. I might need to drain her soon