HELP Big Belly!

[Ccdance75]

For a few days now, one of my 4 year old hens had a HUGE belly. Feels like a water balloon, and when I look up online all I can find is water belly. And while that may be the case 1. I'm not sure how she would get it, she's not a fast grower, not too old, etc. 2. I have no skill in draining such a thing, nor the needles to do it. So, I wonder if it could be something else. O gave her a bath in epsom salt, thought it was a stuck egg, but her belly is huge. If she were a horse, I would swear she was pregnant. I actually went up inside of her to see if I could feel an egg and I didn't. I'm not sure if shes pooping, there's some on her feathers because she can barely get her bottom off the ground. There are flies near her and she keeps putting herself in small tight spaces....very odd behavior. She is walking and the other day I saw her eating and drinking. I don't want her to suffer but I also don't know what to do. I feel bad just leaving her to die. I'm home alone today so It's hard to get a picture of her belly but it is huge and featherless.
Thanks for any advice!

 

[Eggcessive]

Does your hen’s bottom look like the picture below? Usually that is a sign of a hen with ascites or fluid from a failing liver. It can occur with egg yolk peritonitis, heart failure, oviduct cancer, and I think, with fatty liver disease. Can you feel it to check if it is soft, spongy or firm like a mass? Is vet care available?

Picture by everhart13 of BYC.

 

[Ccdance75]

That’s what it looks like! Vet care isn’t available unfortunately. All those things sound awful. It is definitely soft and squishy

 

[Ccdance75]

If it’s fluid is it worth it to try and drain? It’s been like three days. How much longer will she live?

 

[DobieLover]

If it’s fluid is it worth it to try and drain? It’s been like three days. How much longer will she live?

It's difficult to say how much longer she has.
You can try to drain it but you have to be careful doing that. It offers temporary relief because the underlying cause will continue to "refill" her abdomen.
Here is a video on the procedure:

 

[Eggcessive]

For what it is worth, I have had 3 large Marans hens who had those bare enlarged lower bellies who each lived newrly 2 years after it was discovered. I still have 1 left. Of course, since ascites is caused by several different problems, it is unknown how long your hen will live. I just let them be, and they usually hang with the other chickens on an acre, eat and drink. If I notice they start to isolate themselves or be picked on, I put them down.

 

[Ccdance75]

For what it is worth, I have had 3 large Marans hens who had those bare enlarged lower bellies who each lived newrly 2 years after it was discovered. I still have 1 left. Of course, since ascites is caused by several different problems, it is unknown how long your hen will live. I just let them be, and they usually hang with the other chickens on an acre, eat and drink. If I notice they start to isolate themselves or be picked on, I put them down.

This is so good to know! She does isolate herself in the backyard, in really weird spots too! but I figure nature will take its course. I don't want to start getting into poking her with a needle, in possibly the wrong place and maybe even causing an infection. This post makes me feel better about letting her be. Thanks!

 

[Simmons Homestead]

Definitely water belly. If she's eating and acting fairly normal, then just keep an eye on her. Bathe her in warm water and Epsom salts; that helped give a little relief to my hen Ginger and it was nice to snuggle with her while she dried off.