Hen has put on signifcant wieght and has labored breathing......HELP

[SQbrahmas]

Took a banty hen to a county fair. She started to molt then she put on a considerable amount of weight and she has somewhat labored breathing.

Any suggestions? She is in AC not in MD heat. Fresh food and water.

 

[speckledhen]

Put on weight? Could be fluid/infection-filled abdomen. May have ascites or may have egg peritonitis. All that crap in the belly puts pressure on lungs and heart, hence the breathing issue.

 

[SQbrahmas]

What causes this and what can I do?

 

[speckledhen]

You can't do anything if that is what it is other than try a round of penicillin injections to see if it stops the infection, but it's genetic/hormonal and there is no prevention and no cure. That said, I don't know if that is what she has. Is her weight in the abdomen? Check the meat around her keel bone (breast bone). You may find she is actually thin.