Help! Hen Swollen/bulge under butt

[Chicken0223]

I have a chicken question - I have a barred rock that hasn’t laid an egg in probably 6-8 months. She’s not even 2 years old. She’s been lethargic lately and has poop caked on her butt feathers - has for about 4+ months. When she poops it’s runny with lots of white with green. Have you experienced anything like this? We are doing an Epsom salt bath and giving her vitamins and electrolytes. Wondering if it’s a virus? Also after she molted in the winter her neck feathers really never grew back. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Tookie]

She has ascites.

 

[Chicken0223]

What can I do??

 

[Tookie]

What can I do??

Sadly ascites has no cure, the only thing you can do is drain her abdomen for temporary relief. You will have to drain her every time she fills up.

Here is how ascites (water belly) is caused.->

A chicken with water belly is suffering from heart failure and/or hypertension. The heart failure causes their liver to stop functioning properly. When the liver isn’t functioning properly, fluid begins leaking from the liver into the abdominal cavity causing “water belly”. Occasionally in very old (5+ years) chickens, the cause of the liver failure is from a tumor in their reproductive system. In any event, if you chicken has water belly, it is definitely not a good sign, and there is likely a much more serious issue with your chicken’s health.

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Ascites is usually a symptom of something else going on like said above, usually a reproductive issue.

Will you want to drain her?

 

[Chicken0223]

Oh man. How often will she fill up? I don’t know if I have the stomach or skills to drain it. Ugh. What to do.

 

[Shadrach]

As @Tookie writes that looks like ascites to me to.
Nothing more to add. Tookie has it covered.

 

[Chicken0223]

can she live comfortably if it’s drained every time or is euthenaisia the most kind thing to do? Sorry for the questions. We haven’t had to euthanize a chicken yet.

 

[Tookie]

I have never drained a chickens abdomen before so here are some links.

Here's a good thread.->
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ascites-relief-did-i-do-it-right.1518677/#post-25564697

Here's a good video.->

You want to use a 18 gauge needle.

I'll tag the experts, they may offer better advice. @azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

 

[Tookie]

can she live comfortably if it’s drained every time or is euthenaisia the most kind thing to do? Sorry for the questions. We haven’t had to euthanize a chicken yet.

She can live comfortably for a time, it depends on each chicken.
If you feel like she is suffering and you do not feel comfortable draining her it may be best to put her out of her misery. Your decision.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a barred rock that hasn’t laid an egg in probably 6-8 months. She’s not even 2 years old. She’s been lethargic lately and has poop caked on her butt feathers

She has ascites.

Sadly ascites has no cure, the only thing you can do is drain her abdomen for temporary relief. You will have to drain her every time she fills up.

Here is how ascites (water belly) is caused.->

A chicken with water belly is suffering from heart failure and/or hypertension. The heart failure causes their liver to stop functioning properly. When the liver isn’t functioning properly, fluid begins leaking from the liver into the abdominal cavity causing “water belly”. Occasionally in very old (5+ years) chickens, the cause of the liver failure is from a tumor in their reproductive system. In any event, if you chicken has water belly, it is definitely not a good sign, and there is likely a much more serious issue with your chicken’s health.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ascites is usually a symptom of something else going on like said above, usually a reproductive issue.

Will you want to drain her?

I agree, looks like she may have fluid in the abdomen (Ascites).
The cause is unknown at this point, but her not laying eggs in 6-8 months, likely points to some type of reproductive problem. Cancer, EYP, Salpingitis...if you lose her, a necropsy will reveal more.

Draining can be done as a supportive care measure, but it's not a cure.