Help! My chicken's stomach is swollen and is near death

[taytaya]

I'm not sure if she's egg bound or not, but her stomach is a HUGE baseball size and she can barely walk. She waddles and basically lays down all day or has her tail dragging on the ground. I tried giving her a bath with Epson salt and to give her calcium but I can just feel that time is running out. What can I do to feel some sense of closure of helping her out?! No vets are opened near me...unless I make a trip down. But my family seems opposed to the idea of spending so much on a chicken. Any suggestions or similar experiences?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Welcome to BYC!

It sounds like your hen has ascites, or fluid buildup. Check and see whether her abdomen is solid or feels like a bag of water. If it's solid, she's probably egg-bound.

If it is ascites, you're going to need a large-gauge needle, rubbing alcohol, and the largest syringe you can get your hands on. Check out the below video for instructions and more information about ascites.

Better Youtube video of draining a hen's abdomen
Draining a hen's swollen abdomen (Youtube)

And always drain from the right side rather than the left--the organs are on the left side.

Good luck with her.

 

[taytaya]

Welcome to BYC!

It sounds like your hen has ascites, or fluid buildup. Check and see whether her abdomen is solid or feels like a bag of water. If it's solid, she's probably egg-bound.

If it is ascites, you're going to need a large-gauge needle, rubbing alcohol, and the largest syringe you can get your hands on. Check out the below video for instructions and more information about ascites.

Better Youtube video of draining a hen's abdomen
Draining a hen's swollen abdomen (Youtube)

And always drain from the right side rather than the left--the organs are on the left side.

Good luck with her.

Hi thank you for your response!! I really appreciate it. I want to say it feels more solid than a liquid deal. Its very firm... Did you happen to know any ways to help if she was egg bound?? I appreciate the reference to drain her if she was having a fluid buildup. I feel so helpeless to just watch her suffer

 

[sylviethecochin]

This is a really good article on egg-binding, even though it is all in bold.

EDT: and this brief description of possible causes may help you decide what to do with her if the above doesn't work.

 

[Eggcessive]

A belly full of lash eggs from internal laying, or cancer could feel hard. Ascites also is very common. Laying hens can have all sorts of reproductive illnesses. If your hen seems to be suffering, I would put her down. For now make her comfortable, and help her eat and drink by keeping food and water near to her.