Eggbound hen

[LittlePip21]

I'm hoping that tagging casportpony as I have in the above post will alert her if she is available.
Ascites is usually associated with internal laying or heart failure. Below is a link to a thread that I have just been contributing to on the subject. I would not say that your hen is significantly distended for it to be the problem even if she has ascites but since she laid an egg 4 days, it's not likely to be ascites. You will see photos of the hen being drained and xrays of her that show just how swollen she is. Yes you can drain them yourself with a No.16 gauge needle, but you need to cleanse the area well first with anti bacterial agent and be reasonably confident that it is fluid (ascites) before attempting it. I would be reluctant with your hen just because there is no huge tight swollen mass hanging down between the legs like you see with the chicken in that thread.... which is pretty typical of ascites.

The yellow that you saw come out of your hen during/after your internal investigation..... was it egg yolk coloured or more mustard coloured like poop?

I agree with rebrascora, it doesn't seem to distended, but it's something to keep in mind if she starts looking that way

 

[LittlePip21]

Hey, how is your hen?

 

[alliemegb]

Hey, how is your hen?

Ended up taking her to vet because I don't know what else to do. She's in the back room right now getting checked out. I'll keep you updated

 

[alliemegb]

Hey, how is your hen?

Vet was pointless. They could tell me nothing about what's wrong with my sweet girl.

 

[LittlePip21]

I'm so sorry! I wish I knew how to help! I had another hen with ascites before I figured out what it was, and the vet was totally in the dark. She gave me respiratory meds but that was definetly not what was wrong with her. I know exactly how you feel. I had to watch three of my girls pass with no help and no clue what to do before I figured out it was ascites. I'm so sorry you and your hen have to go through with this! Just know I'm praying for you and your girl, that you will have wisdom to know what to do and that she will be free from pain and that she will be healed. I'm so sorry I'm not of more help!

 

[LittlePip21]

Is your hen loosing weight at all? This may just be my fuzzy memory but the hen I have now doesn't seem that swollen when I drain her at times. This is because her body replaces fat with fluid, so she doesn't change that much in size. This happened to a hen I had previously with ascites, and when she passed I did an necropsy, and discovered that she was actually swollen, you just couldn't tell because she was underweight. I know that sounds really terrible, but it may be helpful she starts having symptoms of ascites. Hope this was helpful. Keep us updated ok? Ps: the thing that seems to help my girl is lots of fruits and veggies, fresh air and exercise. You can also give her some electrolytes and probiotic. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

 

[alliemegb]

Is your hen loosing weight at all? This may just be my fuzzy memory but the hen I have now doesn't seem that swollen when I drain her at times. This is because her body replaces fat with fluid, so she doesn't change that much in size. This happened to a hen I had previously with ascites, and when she passed I did an necropsy, and discovered that she was actually swollen, you just couldn't tell because she was underweight. I know that sounds really terrible, but it may be helpful she starts having symptoms of ascites. Hope this was helpful. Keep us updated ok? Ps: the thing that seems to help my girl is lots of fruits and veggies, fresh air and exercise. You can also give her some electrolytes and probiotic. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Sorry it took me awhile to see this. I appreciate all the effort you put in to try and help me it means so much. She has lost weight and funny thing is that she will barley eat anything but fruits and vegetables. Her swelling in her abdomen and the red irritation has gone away but she is still lethargic. I have her sleeping in a nesting box with water and food and take her outside during the day for about 20 minutes to give her some sunlight. During that time I do notice she is taking a few steps then laying down. I will have to do some more research on ascites too see if mabye this is a possibility. Thank you so much again!

 

[LittlePip21]

Sure thing! She may not have ascites ( I don't remember you mentioning any breathing issues and or head shaking.) but it's what I've most commonly had issues with. I'm sorry I can't be more help, I will let you know if I can think of anything else. There are some poultry symptom checkers online that might help you narrow down possibilities? http://www.poultrydvm.com/symptoms you could also try and feed her some cooked eggs, cottage cheese and things like that, to give her some protein. Keep us posted! Praying for you guys!