HELP with Diagnosis! Swollen abdomens and messy butts...

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Thanks, AprilsZoo and everyone else, for your responses. I was unable to do a necropsy. Still having a tough time with culling and necropsy but will need to tackle the latter soon for the good of the flock. I will at least look into my State Lab, at the least.

Do you have any recommendations on the antibiotic and whether oral or injectable? I have Tetroxy HCA-280 soluble powder (oxytetracycline), Tylan 50 injectable, Baytril 10% Oral Solution and penicillin G potassium water soluble. Any o these advisable?

I will definitely do the draining; running out today to get the appropriate size needle. I think had I known about draining ascites before now, I might have eased some discomfort. Somethings you learn the hard way, I suppose.
 
TXChixRock said:
Gave the hen with the membrane calcium tab as soon as she came out of the bath. Just as a note, I’ve had chickens for 15 years so have the basics down pretty well. Have had hens with impacted crops, worms, fly strike, EYP, and egg bound over the years. I’ve never had 4 hens sick at the same time, though. I realize they’re an older flock so I should expect more issues going forward.
To answer some of the questions from above:
  • Feed is H&H organic layer, same feed for 2 years. Treats consist of chopped kale or other greens a couple times a week. Small amount of scratch only when temps to drop below 32. Fruits & veggies (frozen) in summer when temps above 90.
  • NOTE: temps here in south TX dipped into single digits and teens for a week; normally in the 30’s with occasional mid 20s. Single comb br. Leghorn got frostbite on comb. She‘s one of the ones with messy butt. Lays 1 dozen eggs about twice a year so non-egg layer
  • Supplement with oyster shell. Never let it run out. They eat quite a bit, but cannot verify if they all are. Chickens are free range on 1 acre.
  • Ages of chickens affected: 10+ (Leghorn, who lays less than 2 dozen a year), two 4 year olds (Ameraucana & Barred Rock-the membrane in the vent hen) and the youngest 3.5 yrs (Araucana - we culled her today😞)
  • 9 out of 11 of my hens all molted in August so egg laying went to almost zero for several months. Never had so many molt at the same time. Only 1 hard molt, and she’s a non-layer.
  • 2 of the messy butt girls are currently laying, 1 is the non-laying leghorn and the culled hen at 3.5 yrs had not laid since her molt.
  • the abdomen on the girl we culled today was squishy, not firm. Not egg bound...couldn’t feel an egg on internal exam. Very distended. Considered draining ascites but she seemed too far gone, hunkered down, not moving and labored breathing.
  • abdomens on other 3 soft and squishy as well. Much less fluid retention and will drain if necessary. All 3 eating and free ranging, come when called & alert, not penguin walking. One with tail not held as high, but not drooping too much. All vents look good, not red and not smelly. None have lost their feathers in vent area or abdomen.
  • wormed with Valbazen as part of semi-annual worming protocol. Standard 2 rounds given. (Had 1 chicken diagnosed with roundworms 2 years ago and was advised to start worming program. No evidence of worms present since then.)
  • also should mention, in Dec had to cull another hen also with ascites but no messy but. This was a 4 yr production red with severe ascites.
  • no evidence of respiratory issues, no blood in stool, no mites, no changes of diet or added stress (other than the wicked cold they were unaccustomed to). Hygiene is good, 2 coops 8x8 cleaned thoroughly weekly, waterers cleaned daily
  • have had large flock of migrating cedar wax wings in our yard (I swear there must be 100) as well as migrating robins. They’ve been here for several weeks. Could they have passed some avian something to the hens???
Sorry for the long response but I am still puzzled by this since there are 4 at the same time time (plus the one in Dec), with widely ranging ages, one a non-layer. Currently adding ACV to their drinking water and will start giving them some yogurt. Also read on BYC about supplementing with milk thistle extract, so looking into that. Any ideas appreciated.
Click to expand...
Is your feed a whole grain feed or a pellet?


I'd stop ALL treats if I were you.
Overweightness is a major cause of laying type illnesses.
 
TXChixRock said:
Thanks, AprilsZoo and everyone else, for your responses. I was unable to do a necropsy. Still having a tough time with culling and necropsy but will need to tackle the latter soon for the good of the flock. I will at least look into my State Lab, at the least.

Do you have any recommendations on the antibiotic and whether oral or injectable? I have Tetroxy HCA-280 soluble powder (oxytetracycline), Tylan 50 injectable, Baytril 10% Oral Solution and penicillin G potassium water soluble. Any o these advisable?

I will definitely do the draining; running out today to get the appropriate size needle. I think had I known about draining ascites before now, I might have eased some discomfort. Somethings you learn the hard way, I suppose.
Click to expand...
Antibiotics are not a cure. If you have one that is not well and don't want to cull and she's a pet, then antibiotics may help as part of your supportive care measures to make her more comfortable for a short period of time.
 
Kiki said:
Is your feed a whole grain feed or a pellet?


I'd stop ALL treats if I were you.
Overweightness is a major cause of laying type illnesses.
Click to expand...
Feed is primarily pellet with small amount of grain. I can switch to all pellet. Will try that and eliminating any treats. Since they’re free-range they should be getting plenty of greens now. I have a couple of underweight birds that I will separate to give additional supplement to. Might have to get these birds a treadmill if they’re getting fat!🤪
 
Wyorp Rock said:
Antibiotics are not a cure. If you have one that is not well and don't want to cull and she's a pet, then antibiotics may help as part of your supportive care measures to make her more comfortable for a short period of time.
Click to expand...
I generally don’t use antibiotics either, not even for myself to be honest. I stocked up on antibiotics when they started restricting their sale except via the vet. (Our vets don’t treat chickens even though we live in a more rural area.) I was concerned at the time about “what if I needed them”. Not even sure of the shelf life of these antibiotics. Since I was in a quandary about what was causing the ascites/messy butt symptoms, and given the fact that I had multiple birds in the same situation, I was initially concerned something was “going around” and was treatable. Seems like this might be more age/reproduction based than disease based.
 
TXChixRock said:
Feed is primarily pellet with small amount of grain. I can switch to all pellet. Will try that and eliminating any treats. Since they’re free-range they should be getting plenty of greens now. I have a couple of underweight birds that I will separate to give additional supplement to. Might have to get these birds a treadmill if they’re getting fat!🤪
Click to expand...
I don't think people realize how quickly a bird can become overweight by eating scratch and treats.

if it were up to me scratch wouldn't even be an option for people to buy. :oops:
 

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