Hen w/swollen abdomen -- drain or cull?

[Sunny Side Up]

Only yesterday I noticed one of my hens, Autumn, acting unwell. She was freeranging with her flockmates, but spending an unusual amount of time just nestled on the ground. Last night she had gotten herself up the ramp into her 2nd story coop, but was on the floor instead of up on a roost. When I picked her up, I felt a swelling on her abdomen, between her legs & her vent. The feathers below her vent had some wet poop on them. It was dark & difficult to see details.

She is perhaps 2-3 years old, and lives with a big flock so I have no idea of how she's been eating, pooping or laying. This morning she was back downstairs, but again laying on the ground. Her breathing was a bit labored.

I had to leave the house for the day so haven't had time to tend to her further. Could you please help me decide what to do?

I know some folks have reported success in draining the swelling, I guess when it's just water & not internally-laid eggs in there. Should I give that a try? What would be the criteria to try/not try? If I don't have a hypodermic needle, what else could I use?

When I get home I'll separate her into her own cage, and be better able to judge how she's eating/pooping/laying. If there's a chance I can help Autumn survive this, I'd like to try. She's just a mixed-breed hen, but she's the only daughter of a wonderful mixed-breed broody hen we used to have named Quiche that died defending her chicks from a hawk. I have no idea what breeds Quiche was made of, but Autumn looks a lot like her & brings us joy.

But if she's suffering with an incurable condition, I will humanely end her misery and bury her under a favorite tree.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Just my thoughts....

are you sure it's not an egg problem?

i'm sorry i don't know anything about draining a chicken's abdomen.

i think i would stick her in a warm bath and see if she gets any relief before considering culling or draining.....a better chance to evaluate her circumstances, you know? and find out what is really causing the problem.

i am very sorry your girl is ill.

i hope you find really good answers, and she gets well very quickly.

 

[henloverinmaine]

I have no info to help you. I just wanted to say that I hope everything works out for you. I know how you feel about a hen who is the offspring of a beloved lost chicken. We have the daughter of our beloved Randy the Roo. Her name is Roxanne. Randy was a beautiful Buff Cochin and he was killed by a fox last winter.

We still miss him terribly and are very thankful that we have Roxanne.

I would be devastated if anything ever happened to her.

Good luck to you (both)

 

[ruth]

If it feels "liquid" and feels like a water balloon, it is probably Ascites, a filling of fluid. I have a hen who had it. She had gotten so bad she could no longer walk. I was going to put her down but then decided I had nothing to lose by trying to drain out whatever it was.

I drained her "balloon" using a regular needle and syringe and got out a cup full of clear water. I placed her on a stack of folded towels in a bin and she continued to drain for an hour and soaked the towels. After that she was as good as new. I had to repeat the draining about every three months but haven't had to do so in several months now so maybe she's over whatever was causing it. Through it all she continued and continues to lay an extra large brown egg every day. She's a two year old Black Sex Link.

I did learn that if I used a needle with a large syringe I wouldn't have to stick her as many times but she actually never seemed to mind or feel being stuck. She would even eat/drink if I put food/water in front of her while I "drained" her. Just insert the needle in the bottom of the baggy part hanging down - there are no vital organs or anything you can hit.

You can buy needle/syringes at feed stores, pet stores, Wal Mart, TSC or stop by any vet's office.