Hen with ascites

[Eblack65]

For several months I have been doing sitz baths off and on for one of my chickens that stopped laying. Her belly was very firm causing her to waddle. The last couple of days she has been standing still, breathing with her mouth open and struggling. She was still eating but her comb had started shrinking. This afternoon as a last ditch effort, I inserted a 23g in her right side an inch or so from her back leg, and drained off 15mls of clear yellow fluid. Unfortunately she passed during the process. I don’t know if it was the stress or if I held her too firmly and she just couldn’t breathe. I feel terrible Has anyone else had this happen?

 

[nuthatched]

Unfortunately, ascites is a slow death sentence, it's often caused by reproductive issues, heart or liver failure. It likely was just her time to go and nothing you did.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[Eblack65]

Unfortunately, ascites is a slow death sentence, it's often caused by reproductive issues, heart or liver failure. It likely was just her time to go and nothing you did.
Sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

 

[ChickenClaw03]

I had a hen with acites a few years ago, the poor girl had reproductive issues and was a heavy layer. She was taken to the vet multiple times to be drained of fluid (probably from the liver or egg yoke) and was given an implant to stop her from laying.

Unfortunately, like your hen the illness caught up with her. I’m sorry for your loss, you did the best you could for her.

 

[Eblack65]

I had a hen with acites a few years ago, the poor girl had reproductive issues and was a heavy layer. She was taken to the vet multiple times to be drained of fluid (probably from the liver or egg yoke) and was given an implant to stop her from laying.

Unfortunately, like your hen the illness caught up with her. I’m sorry for your loss, you did the best you could for her.

Thank you