My 2 hens have a severely swollen abdomen

[marque]

Not knowing your location, we can't help with that, but you can call your local university extension office and they should be able to tell you the location of your nearest state lab. You need to keep the body refrigerated after death, not freeze it.

Hmmm, a dead chicken in the refrigerator,...I'll have to be sneaky about it. Lol! My husband would divorce me. I live in Santa fe Tx, Galveston County . I appreciate everyones help. I'll look up where to send it. Sadly I will have to wait for another chicken to die. they're like my children, they all have names, well almost. I lost count of them a while back. 150? 185?

 

[Eggcessive]

Using a cooler with ice and the body double wrapped in plastic garbage bags might be a better way to store a body before taking or sending it to the state poultry vet. Here is a contact for a necropsy in TX:
https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests/necropsy-poultry/

 

[ChickenLover08100]

if they haven't been laying eggs they could be egg bound. one of my hens died from being egg abound

 

[marque]

Using a cooler with ice and the body double wrapped in plastic garbage bags might be a better way to store a body before taking or sending it to the state poultry vet. Here is a contact for a necropsy in TX:
https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests/necropsy-poultry/

Thankyou for the contact info and your help! I'll post any changes or updates.

 

[Eggcessive]

When doing a home necropsy on a chicken that has died, ascites is one of the easiest things to diagnose, by the yellow colored fluid that immediately comes out when the lower abdominal cavity is opened. I did a necropsy on one of my 7 year old hens the other day, and I was surprised to find ascites. I could find no other problems to know what caused it. In the past I have found some other problems as well. Here are a couple of videos that show the same woman draining her hens:

 

[marque]

Wow, it doesnt look too difficult. I'm still a bit nervous about it but the 2 hens need some relief.

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure to clean the skin with a good disinfectant such as Chlorhexidene or Betadine, and a sterile needle. Here is a thread with pictures:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-5
I am not trying to say that you should drain your hen, but just providing info if you wish to drain. I usually do not drain, but some do. It is only a temporary fix, and there are always risks.

 

[marque]

I understand that. This one hen cant get around anymore. She's worsened a lot today, actually both of them have. One feels like she's about to burst. my neighbor said she'd help. Im still working on this. People are busy at the grocery stores rt now being cautious.

 

[Folly's place]

Having a post mortem exam at the university will be best, to help you move forward with your flock, and prevent further suffering.
So sorry!
Tapping that swollen abdomen should make her less painful, short term, but won't fix her problem. I hope there's a good solution for your flock.
Mary

 

[marque]

Thankyou. I just want them to not suffer. Ive had a lot of sick and injured chickens over the yrs. Even when I know they're not going to make it, I still try to make their last days or hours as comfortable as possible. Treats from the kitchen, etc. A lot of them have recovered. I never know.