Is this ascites?

[greylee]

I've been worried for some time now that my hen may have some mild ascites going on.

I've attached a picture of her after a bath a few weeks ago. Her abdomen seems quite large to me but when she's dry she doesn't have any bald patches that I see in pictures of hens with ascites. She has been otherwise acting normal and laying regularly so I decided to wait and see.

Today I noticed that that the areas where her thighs meets her belly (the "armpit") looked very bare. This is the first time I've observed bare spots in that area in any of my hens so now I am worried again. She is still acting normally and laying regularly.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Possible she may have a bit of fluid or it could just be fat, hard to know.

She's active, laying, eating/drinking, showing no signs of distress. I would just enjoy her and of course continue to watch her like you are doing with all of your hens.

Not sure about being bare underneath on the legs, if you have photos of that it may help.

 

[greylee]

See how droopy her abdomen looks? And then she has those bald patches where her leg meets her abdomen.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The feathers look to be rubbed off, could be from how she's roosting.

Yes, I do see a bit of a drooping bum there. If she's doing o.k. for now, I'd just monitor her.

 

[greylee]

Just an update. The abdomen appears to be getting larger to me or the bald patch is just getting bigger. I'm not entirely sure. It also feels tight when you touch it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just an update. The abdomen appears to be getting larger to me or the bald patch is just getting bigger. I'm not entirely sure. It also feels tight when you touch it.

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It may be getting a little bigger.

How is she acting?

 

[greylee]

It may be getting a little bigger.

How is she acting?

Seems normal to me and she's still laying. I think she is laying slightly less often but it's also been very hot.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Seems normal to me and she's still laying. I think she is laying slightly less often but it's also been very hot.

Sounds like she's still doing o.k.

Hot weather can certainly affect production, we are also coming into fall soon, so some hens, depending on age will start slowing up a bit in preparation for molt.