Lost feathers & mushy belly

[shelabobby]

Okay so just fyi I have a vet visit scheduled but I think I need some more expert opinions (google has me worried) to help me rest.

My Buff Orpington Hen was walking a little funny today, a wide waddle (think like a cartoon sumo walk), and I noticed some ruffled feathers on her belly just below the breast bone.

She has put on quite a bit of weight over the past id say 2 months. She is not very active and spends most of her day in the nesting box but she's not broody. She willingly comes out for snacks and will come out to dust bathe and lay with the flock.

I picked her up and saw that its probably a 2-3in area where her feathers have come out and the area was soft and mushy. Not huge like I see with water belly images. Her vent area and below are not effected.

She doesn't seem unwell just not motivated to get around. Red Bright Comb, happy for snacks, comes when called, etc. She did lay an egg after I made the appt and I tried to do a count of her eggs but its hard to tell the eggs apart nowadays. I checked on her just a little bit ago and the mushy bit seemed to be less distended.

What are your thoughts? I was looking up Water Belly, EYP, and even just Egg Bound but all the symptoms match in one way or another.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos of her bare area?

What do you feed, including treats? You mention snacks, what do you give and how much?

 

[shelabobby]

Do you have photos of her bare area?

What do you feed, including treats? You mention snacks, what do you give and how much?

I dont have a photo sorry. I can try to get one later.

I feed 16% Layer Feed - Crumble always available. Daily they get about 2 cups of fresh/frozen fruit and veggies to share between 8 chickens. This includes Corn and Peas always but changes on the fresh items like Blueberries, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Banana (rarely), etc.

They get treats like Worms or seed treats (like ImPECKables Fruit and Worms Chicken Treats from TS) but not every day. When they do it is again about 1-1.5 cups between the 8 chickens.

 

[Eggcessive]

You are risking fatty liver disease with all of the extras. They really need to get all of the benefit of their balanced layer feed. An occasional treat of scrambled egg or tuna shared with everyone is plenty of treats and has good protein. They really don’t need fruits and veggies, or other grains, since they will get fat. Do you have granite poultry grit available for them? I also keep some crushed oyster shell for calcium to take as they need it.

I would check her crop first thing in the morning when it should be mostly empty and flat. Hens can suffer from reproductive disorders, crop problems, and even cancer. Is she broody? Does she have a bare chest where she would cover eggs? Sick hens may also take to a nest box. I would try to get her outside to see if she runs back to the nest. Any pictures of her or her droppings would be welcome.

 

[shelabobby]

You are risking fatty liver disease with all of the extras. They really need to get all of the benefit of their balanced layer feed. An occasional treat of scrambled egg or tuna shared with everyone is plenty of treats and has good protein. They really don’t need fruits and veggies, or other grains, since they will get fat. Do you have granite poultry grit available for them? I also keep some crushed oyster shell for calcium to take as they need it.

I would check her crop first thing in the morning when it should be mostly empty and flat. Hens can suffer from reproductive disorders, crop problems, and even cancer. Is she broody? Does she have a bare chest where she would cover eggs? Sick hens may also take to a nest box. I would try to get her outside to see if she runs back to the nest. Any pictures of her or her droppings would be welcome.

I appreciate the feedback on snacks. Our other hens are very slender and what I would consider a very healthy weight. Like I mentioned she really only put on weight the last 2 months and no change in feeding. I will for sure discuss with the vet today and adjust feeding as needed.

Grit in the form of Granite and Crushed Oyster Shells (separate containers) is always provided. I didn't consider this food so was not mentioned.

Crop was firm and full last night at bed but this morning was malleable. I don't *think* she is broody. But I've never had a broody hen before but from what I have seen on videos they are typically cranky. Shes very much herself. If I take her out she may get water or snacks but she goes back in the nest box soon after. Shes been like this for maybe 6+ months. We joke that she's a loner and just likes to be in the quiet nesting box.
I have only been a chicken owner for 13 months and have been lucky with healthy chickens so far. So my experience is low on health concerns.

Her droppings seem normal. I have been keeping an eye on all the droppings because they all have had runny/liquid poops BUT its been very very hot and humid here. Heat index of over 100F/38C for the past 2 months. So the extra water intake is reason for it being runnier. It is cooling off a little the last 2 weeks and the poop is much more standard.

I can try to get a good picture of her. I am solo today so no one to take a picture while I hold her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Being that hot will be hotter inside her nest box in the coop. Is she low in the pecking order or picked on? She probably is suffering from a reproductive disorder if her tail position is down, and her crop still has food in it. I would probably worm her with 10% fenbendazole/SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer 1.50 ml orally for the next 5 days. Worms can sometimes cause crop problems. Fatty liver disease is usually due to a bad diet, but it also can happen in other hens occasionally. However, reproductive disorders are common in hens. She might be cooler if she is in a wire dog crate with food and water in the shade. Check her crop again in the morning before eating or drinking to see if it has emptied. Scrambled egg bits and very watery chicken feed in a small bowl would be good to offer.

 

[shelabobby]

Being that hot will be hotter inside her nest box in the coop. Is she low in the pecking order or picked on? She probably is suffering from a reproductive disorder if her tail position is down, and her crop still has food in it. I would probably worm her with 10% fenbendazole/SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer 1.50 ml orally for the next 5 days. Worms can sometimes cause crop problems. Fatty liver disease is usually due to a bad diet, but it also can happen in other hens occasionally. However, reproductive disorders are common in hens. She might be cooler if she is in a wire dog crate with food and water in the shade. Check her crop again in the morning before eating or drinking to see if it has emptied. Scrambled egg bits and very watery chicken feed in a small bowl would be good to offer.

She was the bottom of the pecking order but over the past 3 months, with the integration of new pullets and having to isolate a bully hen, there was a pecking order shake up and she's near the top. If not the top, second in line. Ive seen her peck at who has been at the top for their whole chicken lives so thats why I say maybe the top.

 

[Eggcessive]

It would be good to see a picture of her puffy belly if you can get one.

 

[shelabobby]

@Eggcessive and @Wyorp Rock here are some pictures. Sorry it is not great. Also a picture of her with our other BO. Barta, the one in question, is the one in the back.

 

[shelabobby]

Back from the vets. She said that it looks okay for now. She tried to draw fluid from the area twice and got nothing so we are thinking shes just getting "fluffy" there. Shes not concerned about the bald spot. Said shes very healthy and not obese in any way. Keel bone is in a healthy feel.

So we will watch her for any more expanding in that area.