Hen trying, but not laying.

[Kalimak]

Hi All,

Could I please get to the bottom of why one of my hens isn't laying? She gets into the nesting box to lay, sits there for quite some time, does the egg song and comes out like she laid, I go check and there's nothing. This has been going on for 2 to 3 months now. And she's the only one with runny poop. I know poultry are good with hiding illness, so I don't know if there's something wrong with her or not to be honest. She is as normal as every other one in the flock. She's 2 years and 1 month old, she used to put out large double yolk eggs frequently.

 

[aart]

Have you examined her vent and belly?

 

[Kalimak]

Have you examined her vent and belly?

I have not. Do I feel the belly for a bump? And how do I go about the vent?

 

[aart]

I have not. Do I feel the belly for a bump? And how do I go about the vent?

Get ahold of her and feel her belly from just below vent to down between her legs.
Compare to other birds.
Might help to have someone hold her so you can use both hands to part feathers to see vent.

 

[Kalimak]

Get ahold of her and feel her belly from just below vent to down between her legs.
Compare to other birds.
Might help to have someone hold her so you can use both hands to part feathers to see vent.

Her vent looks fine. Her belly is larger compared to her sister, who's maintaining her clutch of 3 week old chicks (so not laying eaither). The belly feels like a water balloon? I'm not sure how to describe it, it's not hard, when you press on it it's soft, but not empty.

 

[aart]

The belly feels like a water balloon? I'm not sure how to describe it, it's not hard, when you press on it it's soft, but not empty.

Perfect description.
Often called 'waterbelly', ascites it an accumulation of fluids in the abdomen caused by organ failure and/or disease. Not good news, it's ultimately fatal, tho many treat by several methods to extend the birds life.

 

[Kalimak]

Perfect description.
Often called 'waterbelly', ascites it an accumulation of fluids in the abdomen caused by organ failure and/or disease. Not good news, it's ultimately fatal, tho many treat by several methods to extend the birds life.

Thanks you. So there's no point in a vet visit?

 

[aart]

Thanks you. So there's no point in a vet visit?

I don't think so.
Have had a few cases in my flock, upon euthanization and necropsy found unrecoverable issues from leukosis(viral tumors) to internal laying to egg yolk peritonitis.
Typical 'treatment' is draining and/or antibiotics, pretty much all the ones I've followed have been futile.
Here's a bunch of threads about it to read:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/900938/?q=ascites&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

 

[Kalimak]

I don't think so.
Have had a few cases in my flock, upon euthanization and necropsy found unrecoverable issues from leukosis(viral tumors) to internal laying to egg yolk peritonitis.
Typical 'treatment' is draining and/or antibiotics, pretty much all the ones I've followed have been futile.
Here's a bunch of threads about it to read:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/900938/?q=ascites&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

Ok, thank you for the input.