Help - 7mo Australorper - Swollen Chest

[MinChick25]

Hi, I'm brand new to this BYC and I'm wondering if anyone can help. My hen has a very swollen chest - seems to be getting bigger. It almost feels like a liquid filled sack. I have not seen her stool but there is some darker stool in their coop.

 

[gallusdomesticus]

Is it the chest or abdomen that seems water filled? I have a 4 yr old silver laced wyndotte with the same problem. She was diagnosed by my vet as having Ascites (or water belly). Ascites causes lethargy, abdominal distension, and may end up killing the bird although according to World Poultry Net

(http://www.worldpoultry.net/health-diseases/a/ascites-water-belly-right-ventricular-failure-6.html)

It's not contagious and kills 0.5-20% of those afflicted.

The symptoms you describe can also be caused by liver enlargement or congestive heart failure. In my chicken's case, the vet decided it was a liver ailement and she is on milk thistle extract to treat it. If its congestive heart failure, a vet can prescribe diruretics to control the water gain. In my bird's case, he drained 16 oz of clear slightly yellow fluid from her abdomen and sent it off for testing. I treated her with an antibiotic (Baytril) and this milk thistle extract and she seems to be back to her old self. I hope this helps.

 

[eggsrcool]

Is it possible to post a pic please? and

 

[easttxchick]

Could this be a possible crop issue or have you already ruled that out?

 

[crtrlovr]

Is it on the R side, L side, or all across? Are you sure it isn't just her crop being full of food? Is it rather firm, or really mushy? Is there a foul smell from her beak?
ETA if it's rather firm and mostly on her R side (the L side as you're looking at her from the front) it's probably just a full crop. If it's really squishy and smells foul, she may have a sour crop.

 

[eggsrcool]

Yes, I was thinking it could be the crop.

 

[MinChick25]

Here are some pics...took me a while to manage it - but hopefully this will work.

I did originally notice the right side bulging. Lately she looks bloated all over. And I did notice a foul smell that I had never noticed before...Sour is a good description. Have a look and see if the photo helps. The area does not feel hard - more squishy ...it sort of wobbles when she walks...

If it is sour crop, I found some info on BYC on Sour Crop Treatment...thanks for your help!

 

[gallusdomesticus]

It's not ascites....looks like a crop problem. She's a good looking hen.

 

[MinChick25]

Thanks. This is my first go at chickens and I'm loving it. I never thought much about the little problems that can crop up (oh...a pun!!) - it's a little worrying. I hate to think that the little ladies are suffering in any way due to my ignorance. But we are learning at a rapid pace now. It's challenging figuring out what the problems could be. I'm thinking I should isolate her and see what her stools are looking like and maybe feed her some olive oil soaked bread? Or should I leave her with the flock tonight?

 

[eggsrcool]

That looks like a chicken that has eaten alot. Nothing to worry about, should go down in the next few hours- a day or so