Hen's enlarged abdomen went away on it's own, then came back a few months later

[Fluffy_Feathers]

So I guess the pasty butt has to be addressed first. But would a bug zapper help with the flies? I have one in my coop that is on 24-7. It's not for flies, I got it because we have a lot of mosquitoes. I figured if they bother me, they would bite the chicken too. I empty it daily and it is always full, mostly moths, but the chicken eats them anyway.

That's why I switched to sand. The sand keeps the flies away so fly strike isn't a concern anymore. My concern now is her enlarged abdomen

 

[Melleding]

I'm not sure that flies are attracted to bug zappers. Don't quote me on it tho. I sure wouldn't think so tho. Bug zappers are meant to attract night time bugs out of the dark. Flies normally "sleep" at night, lol.

Oh, well. I figured those little pests were flying around day and night. How dare they sleep all night!

 

[CoopsNPoops]

Oh, well. I figured those little pests were flying around day and night. How dare they sleep all night!

I'm not saying they don't, ive just never seen it, lol. I dont think I've ever noticed flies flying around at night. Even if some get caught in the house, at night, them boogers dont move an inch! Lol. My bet is they go to roost with the chickens!

 

[Melleding]

I'm not saying they don't, ive just never seen it, lol. I dont think I've ever noticed flies flying around at night. Even if some get caught in the house, at night, them boogers dont move an inch! Lol. My bet is they go to roost with the chickens!

You are probably right!

 

[CoopsNPoops]

You are probably right!

This little booger has been stuck in here for a few days. It goes to bed with us, in the same spot, every night. When the lights go off, it comes in here and lands and dont move till morning. It can't have to much tv light, but it never gets completely out of the tv light either. I'm getting kinda fond of the little guy. I think ill name it spot

 

[Melleding]

This little booger has been stuck in here for a few days. It goes to bed with us, in the same spot, every night. When the lights go off, it comes in here and lands and dont move till morning. It can't have to much tv light, but it never gets completely out of the tv light either. I'm getting kinda fond of the little guy. I think ill name it spot

Sounds like you have a new pet. He is kinda cute!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

It could be ascites. I have no idea why it receded on its own, though.

Ascites is a symptom of a larger issue, such as reproductive disease. I have a hen with a swollen abdomen as well. I was given good advice on my thread, which could help you too: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/4-year-old-bantam-hen-w-reproductive-issues.1419554/.

 

[Fluffy_Feathers]

It could be ascites. I have no idea why it receded on its own, though.

Ascites is a symptom of a larger issue, such as reproductive disease. I have a hen with a swollen abdomen as well. I was given good advice on my thread, which could help you too: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/4-year-old-bantam-hen-w-reproductive-issues.1419554/.

Thank you for your help. I didn't know ascites could also be caused by reproductive issues, I thought it was just from heart failure. I have figured ascites was probably one of the things she could have, but since it just went away for a period of time I was at a loss. Maybe it is still possible. Her abdomen doesn't seem to be as big as your girl's is. It's not causing any problems and isn't getting worse, but if it does start to get worse I may consider draining it, see if anything comes out. Did you ever try draining your hen's?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Thank you for your help. I didn't know ascites could also be caused by reproductive issues, I thought it was just from heart failure. I have figured ascites was probably one of the things she could have, but since it just went away for a period of time I was at a loss. Maybe it is still possible. Her abdomen doesn't seem to be as big as your girl's is. It's not causing any problems and isn't getting worse, but if it does start to get worse I may consider draining it, see if anything comes out. Did you ever try draining your hen's?

I haven’t tried draining her yet. She hasn’t really gotten worse, which still surprises me.

 

[Goosebaby]

Ascites can be caused by ovarian problems in hens, other possibilities can be heart, liver or kidney problems.
It is possible that it could be a bacterial infection of the perineum, but usually that’s secondary to the other problems.

Usually these problems don’t come and go, so the fact that she got better makes me wonder if she could have pancreatic issues.

My gander Parsnip developed weight loss and was refusing to eat in the fall/winter of 2019, his tests came back normal for everything other than his blood amylase was through the roof. He had a weirdl swollen abdomen, not to the extreme, but she said it felt like a female about to lay, so his vet sent him home with meloxicam, that was really all she could do.

If you try to look up pancreatic problems in poultry you aren’t going to get much, it isn’t studied in “poultry,” and I’ve only found a few references in parrot forums and articles, so it isn’t hardly studied in avian medicine at all. I was basically flying blind with Parsnip’s treatment.
All I could do is give him meloxicam, turn his feed into mash to aid digestion and encourage him to eat, and I gave him as many blueberries he wanted, which was a lot because it was the only thing he wanted to eat.

His mild “ascites” returned several times coupled with his bouts of not eating, I learned that it helps feeding him only greens and watery fruits and vegetables during these bouts, tomatoes and berries seemed to have had a strong effect. I also gave him b vitamins, gave him milk thistle, aloe detox, grapefruit, and tart cherry extract “it like the grapefruit has a calming effect on the pancreas” during his episodes.
So far he hasn’t had an episode in the longest stretch so far, since he molted last year.

There isn’t a lot to go by with information about pancreatic health in birds so not every case may present the same, if nothing else you might consider getting a CBC to see if her amylase is elevated.