My 6 yr old hen has fatty liver

[Wyorp Rock]

Here is a video...You may want to turn volume up so you can hear her.

Is she doing o.k. now?

Perhaps a behavior specialist will chime in.
I don't hear gurgling or respiratory distress, I hear growling. She's not happy with something or she's giving a warning.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

Ascites as I understand it is usually associated with liver failure which is part of the perfect storm heart failure. Usually you’ll notice a distended (belly bloat) fluid filled abdomen. I have not heard about bleeding internally. The fluid is a clear yellowish it doesn’t look bloody.
I’ll just be honest some hens show the belly bloat some don’t. Most likely when she gets really bad. She’ll just drop.
Just as in humans when one major organ is affected it starts a domino scenario.
It’s a difficult time. My heart aches. Thank you for your videos. Keep us posted. We’ll be here for you.

MissChick@dee, I believe it is called Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome[FLHS] in hens when they have internal bleeding. I probably shouldn't have mentioned in my last statement about veins weakening and causing internal bleeding since that happens in people with advanced liver issues. People with advanced liver problems are prone to having issues with their veins enlarging and weakening in esophagus known as esophageal varices thus causing veins in their esophagus to rupture causing internal bleeding. Hens with fatty liver run risk or hepatic rupture [internal bleeding]. Some articles say FLHS is one of the most common noninfectious causes of mortality in laying hens.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

Is she doing o.k. now?

Perhaps a behavior specialist will chime in.
I don't hear gurgling or respiratory distress, I hear growling. She's not happy with something or she's giving a warning.

Yes. She was more herself last time I checked on her. Could it be she was making that noise with tail down because of the wind? We've had very gusty winds today.

 

[MissChick@dee]

MissChick@dee, I believe it is called Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome[FLHS] in hens when they have internal bleeding. I probably shouldn't have mentioned in my last statement about veins weakening and causing internal bleeding since that happens in people with advanced liver issues. People with advanced liver problems are prone to having issues with their veins enlarging and weakening in esophagus known as esophageal varices thus causing veins in their esophagus to rupture causing internal bleeding. Hens with fatty liver run risk or hepatic rupture [internal bleeding]. Some articles say FLHS is one of the most common noninfectious causes of mortality in laying hens.

Hepatic rupture sounds awful. I’m glad she has good parts of her day.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Here is a video...You may want to turn volume up so you can hear her.

I had a hen do this when she had chicks and still does it rarely but if Harriet doesn't do this, than that ain't good

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I would bring her to the vet as someone said (too lazy to check) as like they said, many things could change. Fluid or internal laying is something that you want to check in her abdomen via x-ray.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I would bring her to the vet as someone said (too lazy to check) as like they said, many things could change. Fluid or internal laying is something that you want to check in her abdomen via x-ray.

She had a X-ray

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes. She was more herself last time I checked on her. Could it be she was making that noise with tail down because of the wind? We've had very gusty winds today.

Tail down could be unrelated to the noise she is making. It's possible the wind was concerning her, mine can be a bit cautious on very windy days.
Has she raised her tail back up?

 

[Stockpilejoy]

Tail down could be unrelated to the noise she is making. It's possible the wind was concerning her, mine can be a bit cautious on very windy days.
Has she raised her tail back up?

Yes, Her tail was down while at the doorway but once I moved her to different spot her tail was back in upward position and stayed that way. Feeling foolish that I went into panic mode thinking she was dying. Since she has slowed down over the past month I've been a bit of a worry wart.

FarmerGirl101, Sure I would love to know exactly what is going on but my husband is still not at the point of agreeing to vet visit especially since she is still eating, drinking with normal droppings and the fact she is older hen.

MissChic@dee, She has not had new X-ray. I do have copy or her 2 X-rays from 2014 and would gladly share if someone could read it on here.

 

[rebrascora]

I would certainly be very interested to see the x-rays if you are able to post them and I'm quite others will be too.