Hen with a Limp, Labored Breathing, Drooping Tail, and Fatigue [Update: Worm Found]

[ChicNmom]

With the abdominal swelling and weird poop plus you don't think she has been laying seems to me like a reproductive infection.

If it were me I would start a round of antibiotics and depending on how it felt I might see if I could drain fluid off to make her more comfortable. But you are right there with your hen so better able to determine what you think is going on compared to the replies in this thread.

If you think you want to drain fluid(if it feels like water weight) you would need an 18 gauge needle and luer lock syringe which you can get on Amazon.

Instructions are available on BYC or Youtube.


I have an 11 year old that has similar swelling that has improved with Baytril treatment. Although she is very old so I'm just hoping to keep her comfortable until she can hopefully have a nice quick heart attack.
She still has plenty of energy so it's a quality of life thing.



Some chickens won't regrow feathers until they molt and then grow in a whole new set.

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

Is there a lot of weight in the saggy abdomen? That could cause the panting if there is pressure building up.

Thank you for coming alongside us to help! That is very kind of you.
These are my first chickens, so I am not exactly sure what a bare chicken bottom should feel like. I have her sister to compare, but she weighs a lot less (10 or more oz. less).

With the abdominal swelling and weird poop plus you don't think she has been laying seems to me like a reproductive infection.

I have definitely been worried about reproductive issues. I've had trouble figuring out what signs would actually confirm my suspicions though. I've seen a lot of pictures and descriptions, but I have a lot of trouble figuring out whether they look the same as Brynn.
For a long time, she has lived completely happy and doesn't even seem to notice her bottom is bare and red. She's always very active and curious. She always ate and drank a lot. Today is the only time I have seen her doing poor like this.

If it were me I would start a round of antibiotics and depending on how it felt I might see if I could drain fluid off to make her more comfortable. But you are right there with your hen so better able to determine what you think is going on compared to the replies in this thread.
If you think you want to drain fluid(if it feels like water weight) you would need an 18 gauge needle and luer lock syringe which you can get on Amazon.

Thank you for this information!
We have 23 guage luer lock syringes already. Is this size too far off to use?

I have an 11 year old that has similar swelling that has improved with Baytril treatment. Although she is very old so I'm just hoping to keep her comfortable until she can hopefully have a nice quick heart attack.
She still has plenty of energy so it's a quality of life thing.

I'm sorry to hear about your hen. Eleven years is an amazing length of time for a chicken to live! I'm glad you have found a way to help her live as comfortable as possible with this condition.

Some chickens won't regrow feathers until they molt and then grow in a whole new set.

That's very helpful to know! Surprisingly, I have had a lot of trouble figuring out when chickens are supposed to grow feathers back. Some people said right away, others said not until the next molt. This helps to know!

 

[ChicNmom]

@Elspeth Dinsmore

I personally would use the 23 if that is what I had. There have been times I felt I had to use a lot of hand strength to draw with the 18 gauge.

I place the needle on the hens right side ( internal organs are on her left so always drain on the right) I choose a spot at least 2 inches below the vent and off to the right as that seemed to be the location a vet demonstrated on Youtube. I insert the needle about a half to 3/4 of an inch depending again on the swelling and the size of the bird I usually draw the plunger and pull until the plunger is out and let the fluid drain through the needle and through the syringe into a container. When the flow slows down I remove the needle. Some fluid will continue to drain.

I had one hen that I drained a few times. Then she seemed OK until she started laying eggs in spring and started swelling up again. When I tried to drain her I could barely draw the plunger and I only got some hard pus in the syringe. At that point nothing helped and I had her put down. So sometimes this just makes them more comfortable and may not save her life. If there is fluid or pus antibiotics will be needed and again. If it's too far along may not work, but I always try.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-5

 

[Eggcessive]

The urates being white is good. Usually with ascites/water belly, the urates may turn yellow from excess bile. It is hard to tell if the lower belly is enlarged since most look larger when all of the feathers are gone.

 

[tlcmurphy]

@Elspeth Dinsmore

I personally would use the 23 if that is what I had. There have been times I felt I had to use a lot of hand strength to draw with the 18 gauge.

I place the needle on the hens right side ( internal organs are on her left so always drain on the right) I choose a spot at least 2 inches below the vent and off to the right as that seemed to be the location a vet demonstrated on Youtube. I insert the needle about a half to 3/4 of an inch depending again on the swelling and the size of the bird I usually draw the plunger and pull until the plunger is out and let the fluid drain through the needle and through the syringe into a container. When the flow slows down I remove the needle. Some fluid will continue to drain.

I had one hen that I drained a few times. Then she seemed OK until she started laying eggs in spring and started swelling up again. When I tried to drain her I could barely draw the plunger and I only got some hard pus in the syringe. At that point nothing helped and I had her put down. So sometimes this just makes them more comfortable and may not save her life. If there is fluid or pus antibiotics will be needed and again. If it's too far along may not work, but I always try.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-5

I’ve never drained a chicken, but you should use an 18 gauge needle, 23 gauge is MUCH smaller, I don’t think you’ll be able to drain anything (unless you detach the syringe and just let it drip).
I hope your girl feels better soon

 

[Tiffany Wikk]

The urates being white is good. Usually with ascites/water belly, the urates may turn yellow from excess bile. It is hard to tell if the lower belly is enlarged since most look larger when all of the feathers are gone.

Oh, that makes me feel so much better! This is so good to know! I had no clue about the urates. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the the yellow urates. Thank you!!! I really hope this isn't a reproductive issue!

Brynn just tried to hop up on my lap. So I have her sitting here and she's all comfy on my lap. I think she perked up some after the Nutridrench. She woke up for a bit and drank a bunch of sugar water and ate some feed and meal worms.

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

I’ve never drained a chicken, but you should use an 18 gauge needle, 23 gauge is MUCH smaller, I don’t think you’ll be able to drain anything (unless you detach the syringe and just let it drip).
I hope your girl feels better soon

Thank you so much, TLCMurphy! That is very helpful to know! You always show up to help us.
We will try to get some 18 guage needles.

 

[Eggcessive]

It is okay to use just the needle and no syringe to drain. A sterilized large sewing needle can also be used just to make a small hole to drain, in the absence of a hypodermic needle. Be sure to disinfect the skin well, if you attempt it, because there is a risk of infection. Yellow to amber fluid is ascites, while clear color-less fluid is a cystic right oviduct. Both can cause enlargement of the abdomen. I usually don’t attempt draining since ascites is a fatal disease eventually. But for one having labored breathing, I will do it to help ease the discomfort and breathing. In this thread below, post 42 has good pictures of a needle draining fluid:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-5

 

[CCsGarden]

Oh, that makes me feel so much better! This is so good to know! I had no clue about the urates. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the the yellow urates. Thank you!!! I really hope this isn't a reproductive issue!

Brynn just tried to hop up on my lap. So I have her sitting here and she's all comfy on my lap. I think she perked up some after the Nutridrench. She woke up for a bit and drank a bunch of sugar water and ate some feed and meal worms.

One thing I have to say is mealworms are not the best to feed to them all the time since they don't have to much protein in them. I normally give them as treats. So a few here and there is prefect

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

One thing I have to say is mealworms are not the best to feed to them all the time since they don't have to much protein in them. I normally give them as treats. So a few here and there is prefect

I just realized, we said mealworms, but technically they are black soldier fly larvae! I didn't realize that earlier. Here is the analysis on the back:

Thanks, CC! I will scramble up an egg for her to make sure she isn't eating too many black soldier fly larvae.