Help I think my hen has water belly

[Belovedturkey]

I think my bufforpington has water belly, I noticed two days ago that she was having neon green watery poops and that she was bloated, but I couldn’t feel a stuck egg and her crop was emptying fine. Last night she wouldn’t Roost and she’s really lethargic this morning. She went down hill really fast and I’m not sure if I should drain her or be more sure that it’s water belly first. I soaked her and trimmed the feathers around her Vent because they’re starting to collect poo. I’ve also noticed that other birds have been picking on her and pecking her comb. Her sister died of water belly a couple years ago. What should I do going forward? You can kind of tell she’s bloated in the photo and I did clean the poo off her after the photo was taken.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think my bufforpington has water belly, I noticed two days ago that she was having neon green watery poops and that she was bloated, but I couldn’t feel a stuck egg and her crop was emptying fine. Last night she wouldn’t Roost and she’s really lethargic this morning. She went down hill really fast and I’m not sure if I should drain her or be more sure that it’s water belly first. I soaked her and trimmed the feathers around her Vent because they’re starting to collect poo. I’ve also noticed that other birds have been picking on her and pecking her comb. Her sister died of water belly a couple years ago. What should I do going forward?

I'm sorry she's not doing well.

You can try draining to see if you get any fluid, that would be up to you. Draining is not a cure, but sometimes it can make them more comfortable and extend life for a good while longer.

Do you know when her last egg was?

 

[Belovedturkey]

I’m not sure, my hens stopped laying all winter and only started a week ago and I don’t think she has because i haven’t seen her in a nesting box or any eggs in her usual spots. I think going to try draining tomorrow but honestly she looks worse than she did when I posted and I’m really worried she might not even make the night so I’m also considering culling her. If you have any recommendations for how to do that it would be appreciated, I don’t want her to be in pain.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m not sure, my hens stopped laying all winter and only started a week ago and I don’t think she has because i haven’t seen her in a nesting box or any eggs in her usual spots. I think going to try draining tomorrow but honestly she looks worse than she did when I posted and I’m really worried she might not even make the night so I’m also considering culling her. If you have any recommendations for how to do that it would be appreciated, I don’t want her to be in pain.

Oh I'm sorry she's getting worse.

I wonder if she's having a hard time coming back into lay and expelling an egg.

If you think she needs draining, you can try that tonight to see if she improves in the next few hours, but if you feel she's in a lot of pain and needs to be put down, that is understandable too.

Do you have someone that can help with putting her out of her misery if it comes to that?
I use the broomstick method to put a hen down.

 

[Belovedturkey]

Oh I'm sorry she's getting worse.

I wonder if she's having a hard time coming back into lay and expelling an egg.

If you think she needs draining, you can try that tonight to see if she improves in the next few hours, but if you feel she's in a lot of pain and needs to be put down, that is understandable too.

Do you have someone that can help with putting her out of her misery if it comes to that?
I use the broomstick method to put a hen down.

I think I have someone who’d be willing to help, I won’t be able to drain her until tomorrow, it’s really late were I am right now and I have someone who will hold her for me tomorrow. I think I’m going to drain her and see how she handles it and if it helps at all before I make a decision on culling her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think I have someone who’d be willing to help, I won’t be able to drain her until tomorrow, it’s really late were I am right now and I have someone who will hold her for me tomorrow. I think I’m going to drain her and see how she handles it and if it helps at all before I make a decision on culling her.

Ok, this sounds good.

In the meantime, do you think she'd take some sips of water or sugar water if you held a little cup up to her beak?

 

[Belovedturkey]

Ok, this sounds good.

In the meantime, do you think she'd take some sips of water or sugar water if you held a little cup up to her beak?

I’m not sure but I’ll try that today

 

[Belovedturkey]

We ended up culling her, I had my dad do it for me I still haven’t been able to it myself (I’ve only ever had one other chicken who needed to be culled) we did try draining her and we double checked to make sure we had the right spot and we have drained a chicken with water belly before so I’m not sure why but a really dark liquid came out I’m not sure what color it is but it’s really dark. Even before we drained her she was starting to pant and I think it was better to just not prolong her death. I don’t know how he culled her I did tell him about the broomstick method but because I can’t do it without I couldn’t be too particular about it. I included a picture of the liquid we drained

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We ended up culling her, I had my dad do it for me I still haven’t been able to it myself (I’ve only ever had one other chicken who needed to be culled) we did try draining her and we double checked to make sure we had the right spot and we have drained a chicken with water belly before so I’m not sure why but a really dark liquid came out I’m not sure what color it is but it’s really dark. Even before we drained her she was starting to pant and I think it was better to just not prolong her death. I don’t know how he culled her I did tell him about the broomstick method but because I can’t do it without I couldn’t be too particular about it. I included a picture of the liquid we drainedView attachment 4305511

I'm sorry about your hen.

That fluid is so dark, she may have had liver failure hard to know, but the color indicates something serious.

You made the right call and I'm glad your Dad was able to put her out of her misery.

I know it can be hard to lose them, but sometimes there's not much else that can be done but end suffering.