Mature chickens with weight gain or fluid retention.

[Tkain]

Hello,
Please help me determine if we need to see a vet or what we need to do. We have 2 mature sick chickens in a small flock of 12. The chickens have the same symptoms although the first chicken's symptoms started a couple of weeks ago. We noticed they began gaining weight or its fluid retention all over their bodies. And they won't move around much. They eat and drink but not well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lillith37]

Hello,
Please help me determine if we need to see a vet or what we need to do. We have 2 mature sick chickens in a small flock of 12. The chickens have the same symptoms although the first chicken's symptoms started a couple of weeks ago. We noticed they began gaining weight or its fluid retention all over their bodies. And they won't move around much. They eat and drink but not well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The way to assess a chicken’s body condition is as follows. Each chicken has their own “normal” but you can compare birds you are concerned about to birds you aren’t to try to identify some differences.

Firstly the keel bone should be easily palpable with well formed convex breast muscles either side. The belly/abdomen area under the vent and before the keel bone starts should be soft and squishy.
If it is swollen, distended, hard, fluid filled, these are signs of an internal issue.

Then their weight. Knowing your birds’ healthy weight is a good way to determine their health because a chicken can lose body condition but be gaining weight and that’s more likely to be fluid retention, ascites or some other illness.

The two girls you are concerned about — are they still laying eggs? Check their crops in the evening before roost and in the morning before you let them out to make sure they are eating something and digesting it all overnight. Do their poops look normal?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello,
Please help me determine if we need to see a vet or what we need to do. We have 2 mature sick chickens in a small flock of 12. The chickens have the same symptoms although the first chicken's symptoms started a couple of weeks ago. We noticed they began gaining weight or its fluid retention all over their bodies. And they won't move around much. They eat and drink but not well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome To BYC

Where are you located in the world?

How old are the hens?

What breed are they?

Can you please post photos of them and their poop?

Do they lay eggs?

What do you feed, including treats?

How much weight have they gained?