hen with swollen & hard abdomen - is it egg peritonitis? *UPDATE*

[Lothiriel]

I really appreciate everything here. I wasn't complaining. I was just asking a question. If I sounded like I was complaining, I'm sorry. Just wanted to let you know. You've all been a lot of help, and I'll continue to update you on her. Thank you all!
And thank you, dlhunicorn, for your information. I'm not really a great chicken farmer, and I don't know a lot about diseases and stuff like that. I really enjoy this forum.

 

[dlhunicorn]

oh gosh , I did not interpret it that way at all

Just did not want anyone misunderstanding....so often when ppl post they can't possibly post all the info... I just try to give as much relevant info as possible so they/you can recognize something when it turns up...

 

[Lothiriel]

OK. Thanks anyway!

 

[Lothiriel]

OK. Bad news: it's ascites.

Her comb and wattles are blue now, and, although her abdomen is not as hard as it was, it still is pretty hard. Is there any cure for ascites? And is it contagious? She's in with the rest of my flock, and I don't want them to get it. And also, how long will it be before she dies if I don't try to humanely do it? (I don't think I'll be able to do it though.)

 

[dlhunicorn]

Ascites (unless you have a broiler or live at a very high elevation) is usally a secondary condition to something else (it is not "contagious" ...basically ascites is an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity and its common name is "waterbelly")it occurs with pulmonary hypertension but also with liver and reproductive disease... read about it here:
http://www.vetcareindia.com/p_bul_ascites.htm

...now the blue comb would seem to indicate heart involvement but this may also be secondary to a reproductive disorder or even something else causing it...

separate the bird and keep in a calm place and dont let her become stressed and restrict her activity....monitor closely to try and see if you can figure out the primary disorder...
...have a look through the various reproductive disorders and see if any ring a bell...
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=linksgeneralinfo&action=display&num=1158765194

 

[Lothiriel]

Thanks for the links - they're really good. (I haven't finished them all yet.

) Oh, and what secondary thing would cause her comb and wattles to turn blue?

 

[Lothiriel]

SHE'S GETTING BETTER!!!!!! Her comb is not blue anymore and her abdomen is all squishy now. She got up this morning and went outside and is "cooing" like normal. (She has a soft nasal voice and it sounds like she coos.

) I'M SO HAPPY!!!

 

[Lothiriel]

I know this thread is really old, but I thought I'd update you: when we took winnie to the butcher, we heard back that she was an internal layer. The butcher said that he can stand lots of gross things, but this was so bad that he had to throw her in the garbage.

 

[Jillylam]

I was just wondering - why did you take her to the butcher? I hope this isn't a dumb question.

 

[dlhunicorn]

the only " cure" for an internal layer (sometimes they live with this condition for some time) is the operation you saw in that thread PENNYs SURGERY... the abdomen is usually hard (instead soft/squishy as with ascites though ascites can also occur with this condition)
...sorry you lost her.