Help my queen Mrs piggy is filling up with fluid!

[csaylorchickens]

I got home today and let the girls out. Queen Mrs piggy has been molting, or that's what it appears to be the problem. She has been shedding her tail feathers for the past 2 weeks. Today I noticed her perineum is bulging and filled with fluid. Last time this happened to a hen, she died from heart failure! I'm panicking. She is my world. My queen hen. What do I do? Vet can see her till monday?!?! Shoukd I have him call in atb now so maybe she can start something? Heart failure, peritonitis, egg bound? Funny thing is she isnt.keeping all lethargic or tried she seems to be acting pretty normal. What do I do

 

[csaylorchickens]

I was going to separate her but she loves her fellow hens if she dies at least she will be with her fellow hen family members in her last moments

 

[Eggcessive]

Don't separate her unless she is being bullied. Can you post a picture of her belly? Does it feel tight and full? You can enter "ascites" in the search box, top of this page, and look for some threads on draining fluid from the belly with an 18 gauge needle every now and then to relieve pressure.

 

[csaylorchickens]

I'll get a pic this am when I let them out. Why is this happening a second time? My first one was 16 weeks old when she doed. Mrs piggy is 1 1/2? I'll drain it if needed. Even if she doesn't lay anymore she is my girl. I want to keep her healthy she is so lovely

 

[ChickenChaser9]

I'll get a pic this am when I let them out. Why is this happening a second time? My first one was 16 weeks old when she doed. Mrs piggy is 1 1/2? I'll drain it if needed. Even if she doesn't lay anymore she is my girl. I want to keep her healthy she is so lovely

We don't have enough information to know the why for sure yet but we are hoping that some pictures will shed some light on the issue. If you can get her to a professional that would help immensely. Best wishes.

 

[csaylorchickens]

 

[csaylorchickens]

 

[csaylorchickens]

 

[Eggcessive]

I'll get a pic this am when I let them out. Why is this happening a second time? My first one was 16 weeks old when she doed. Mrs piggy is 1 1/2? I'll drain it if needed. Even if she doesn't lay anymore she is my girl. I want to keep her healthy she is so lovely

Internal laying, egg yolk peritonitis, and ascites are all common in layers. Ascites or fluid in the belly, can be a result of EYP, heart or liver failure, and cancer. What breed are the chickens that have had this? These can be more common in older hens, but it still occurs sometimes in a younger hen. Here are some links to read:
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/tag/laying-issues/
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...uctive_system/egg_peritonitis_in_poultry.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/853726/ascites-in-desperate-need-of-some-help-and-guidance (see post # 4)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/638821/ascites-swollen-squishy-abdomen-with-pics-video-page-9/80 (see page 9)

 

[csaylorchickens]

I think my hen laid an egg early this morning I saw her in the nest and then I came home later that day and there was an egg in it that was very very large she's normally the only one who lays that large of an egg. The flu was a little better today but it's still filling up in that area below the vent. I took her to the vet today $169 later hen is lucky man, and the doctor took a sample of the fluid and said that it was due to an inflammatory response she didn't have any signs of an active infection but just in case he gave her a steroid shot and gave me antibiotics to give to her so all major life threatening illnesses have been ruled out for now