Large hard growth on belly of RIR, need help asap

[sickchicken910]

I have a 1.5 year old RIR who a few days ago started acting strange, penguin walking.

she had an enlarged belly, it felt hard, almost seemed like there could be two eggs in there. started searching online, her symptoms matched EYP or egg bound. did the bath with epsom salt + gave her calcium, no egg. couldn’t feel an egg up her vent.

isolated her from flock (no one else has symptoms) and in just 1-2 days the growth has gotten bigger. On Sunday, she could walk/waddle (it almost seemed like she had broken legs but she didn’t). Monday, she could still stand upright but not for long. Tuesday (today), she can’t stand at all.

She’s had 2 days of antibiotics.

We’re trying to figure out if we should try to find a syringe and drain her or if it’s time to put her down. would hate to put her down if there’s a chance of her getting better.

have given her garlic water and apple sauce with tums for calcium as food. she has an appetite and is pooping fine (diarrhea looking nothing too solid but not straight liquid either)

she’s super lethargic, closing eyes and sleeping all day pretty much. she can’t move from a laying down position bc of the growth.

comb flopped over and losing color.

 

[FeatheredFriends&Horses2]

I'm so sorry!☹ Unfortunately it sounds like she's going downhill very quickly. If you feel comfortable with it you can try to drain it, but it may be time to put her down. I'm sorry, I know it's always such a hard, sad thing to do!

 

[sickchicken910]

I'm so sorry!☹ Unfortunately it sounds like she's going downhill very quickly. If you feel comfortable with it you can try to drain it, but it may be time to put her down. I'm sorry, I know it's always such a hard, sad thing to do!

Thank you for responding. it is super sad.

 

[lbgreenfield]

Hi. So sorry to hear about your henThis kind of sounds like it might be ascites (water belly). How is she doing? If you have Nutri-Drench, you can try syringe dosing her with that to see if she perks up. I’m not sure garlic water and applesauce will be providing enough nutrition for her, but you know her best! You could also try a scrambled egg or some canned tuna as well.

 

[Peppercorngal]

If she has "water belly" you can drain it, and if it were me I would try. I had a hen like that and I tried to drain her, but it wasn't fluid, it was pus. She lasted a long, long time with this belly (almost a year) and I couldn't bring myself to cull her. She died one night and I did a necropsy. Her belly was one huge ball of pus. Huge. We always called her "Chub" because of her big belly!! Anyway if you want to see the photos I can post them, but I won't do it here. If she dies you should do a necropsy, you won't hurt her and you will gain information and experience for next time, which I hope never comes. Good Luck!

 

[sickchicken910]

If she has "water belly" you can drain it, and if it were me I would try. I had a hen like that and I tried to drain her, but it wasn't fluid, it was pus. She lasted a long, long time with this belly (almost a year) and I couldn't bring myself to cull her. She died one night and I did a necropsy. Her belly was one huge ball of pus. Huge. We always called her "Chub" because of her big belly!! Anyway if you want to see the photos I can post them, but I won't do it here. If she dies you should do a necropsy, you won't hurt her and you will gain information and experience for next time, which I hope never comes. Good Luck!

super interesting that she lived that long!! i wouldn’t have had the heart to either in that situation, as long as she seemed happy and capable enough.

we haven’t drained her yet but the enlargement is firm. that’s why we’re not sure if it’s water belly because definitions we looked up describe it as more squishy. but we’re not necessarily thinking she’s egg bound because we didn’t feel anything resembling an egg when we checked the vent (went a few inches in).

 

[sickchicken910]

Hi. So sorry to hear about your henThis kind of sounds like it might be ascites (water belly). How is she doing? If you have Nutri-Drench, you can try syringe dosing her with that to see if she perks up. I’m not sure garlic water and applesauce will be providing enough nutrition for her, but you know her best! You could also try a scrambled egg or some canned tuna as well.

good points - she’s super lethargic and can’t really move around on her own bc of the growth. stuck laying down.

she had about a half a tomato at different points today - gobbled it up happily. but we could definitely try to get some more nutrients in her for sure. thank you!

 

[lbgreenfield]

How is she doing today?

 

[Peppercorngal]

My chicken could walk and eat on her own, just waddled around like a pregnant lady for a long time. If you are going to feed her, feed her at least something that is good for her. 20% protein crumble or make a mash. Give her cat food, scrambled eggs, things that have protein to keep her alive. Tomato and garlic water and apple sauce will not keep her alive, she will starve on that. How is she doing? If she's ok, try to drain her. Please let us know what is happening with her. More photos even.