Hen with swollen abdomen = worms??

[Dawnclucks22]

Hi BYC! This is urgent, and I need to know your thoughts...
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Rhode Island Red, approx. 3-4 years old.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
When I open the coop in the morning, they all come rushing out so they can free range. But yesterday and today she hangs back. Yesterday, she came out eventually, but today I had to pick her up and put her on the ground...
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Just yesterday and today, so I'm hoping I can do something...
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
I knew there was something going on so I felt her abdomen. It's swollen like a balloon. Not an egg that I could feel (she hasn't laid recently) but I didn't check up her vent either, just around it. I was in a hurry.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
I haven't seen her go to the nest box for awhile but I didn't feel an egg - that's all.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
I saw her eat yesterday and I believe she has been drinking.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
I haven't seen any, but will post pics if I can get some
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Nothing as I did not want to make it worse and I just noticed it yesterday. I have worm medication on hand if necessary.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Fortunately I live near an exotic vet but $ is an issue.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I will soon later this afternoon
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
They sleep in a small coop and then free-range in the rest of the backyard during the day.

 

[sourland]

Do an on site search on ascites. Good luck at resolving this.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Do an on site search on ascites. Good luck at resolving this.

I did some research and people seem to recommend culling for this condition. If there's no other way and it will just prolong her suffering to leave her alone, that can be done - but is there any way to treat it that doesn't involve puncturing an organ? I would not want to risk injuring her and I can't do something as serious as that.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I agree ascites or EYP is the most likely culprits.

Worms is not the root cause. And worming an already ill bird can very well push them over the edge. It is poison and it's hard on the body.

Yes, I would cull. Some people treat it and do prolong life for a little while. It wouldn't be my choice to face it again with the same bird and have to worry all over. They hide pain just as long as possible.

Sorry you and your hen face this.

Hope it resolves quickly.

 

[Eggcessive]

Internal laying and other reproductive disorders can also cause a swollen lower belly. Ascites can make the belly tight, but I have recently done necropsies on 3 hens with ascites, who did not have a tight swollen belly.

You can try getting her to eat and drink by mixing a small bowl of chicken feed plus some egg and a lot of water to tempt her to eat. Some people go ahead and try an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (FishMox available online) just to treat for any infection. Other brave souls may try draining the lower belly with a 16 gauge needle to remove fluid if there is ascites. There are threads and videos here on BYC and YouTube to help.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Internal laying and other reproductive disorders can also cause a swollen lower belly. Ascites can make the belly tight, but I have recently done necropsies on 3 hens with ascites, who did not have a tight swollen belly.

You can try getting her to eat and drink by mixing a small bowl of chicken feed plus some egg and a lot of water to tempt her to eat. Some people go ahead and try an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (FishMox available online) just to treat for any infection. Other brave souls may try draining the lower belly with a 16 gauge needle to remove fluid if there is ascites. There are threads and videos here on BYC and YouTube to help.

If there's no way to treat the issue I may consider culling. I may try to get her to eat. Thank you for your reply.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

*I HAVE PICS*
This is her.

This is her stance when I put her down. It's not *too* different, but you can see her neck is sucked in a little more. It's not the angle; she's turning her head and it is not stretched out much.

Here is her butt. Note the poop around the vent; I clipped her poopy feathers off a little under a week ago, so it stood out to me.

Plus a photobomb by my inquisitive Australorp Stella.

I'm thinking I'll give her a week and see if it's just a scare that will fix itself. If not I might have to cull. I'm not trying to get my hopes up though because it does sound like ascites.

 

[Elie And Her Flock]

Hey there! I know that this is an old thread but I'm curious - what did you end up doing with your hen? If she passed, did you do a necropsy? Mine's having the same problem.