My hen’s “ascites” story!

[Cassondra53]

Hello all!
I’m posting this with the hope that it may help someone else who has a hen going through something similar:

For 2-3 weeks Binx has been slowly showing symptoms that something wasn’t right: she stopped laying eggs, she started having slightly labored breathing, she had diarrhea that wasn’t going away, and her abdomen started getting big and firm.
I assumed the worst - I assumed ascites, which I know is often a death sentence. My friend recommended that I check with a needle and see if I could draw fluid from her abdomen. With an 18 gauge needle and lots of research on how/where to do the poke, I found that about 100 mL of dark yellow/brown fluid came dripping out (see pics).

I was devastated. Before all of this, I called my vet - their next appointment opening was 5 days away. I had to do something for her because I was scared she wouldn’t make it. So I did the draining procedure.

Today was her vet appointment. I was so stressed I was almost sick to my stomach. Finally, the vet called - it was an infection associated with her liver and strong antibiotics will likely save her life!!!

I read SO much about ascites, swollen abdomens, etc. I had assumed there was no hope for my sweetheart. But I am SO relieved. To anyone who has a chicken that is going through these symptoms, there MAY be something curable causing the symptoms - don’t give up hope!
Antibiotic treatment started today. I’m not giving up hope!!!

 

[Kiki]

Poor thing. I hope the antibiotics work.

May I ask what you feed her on a regular basis?

 

[Cassondra53]

Poor thing. I hope the antibiotics work.

May I ask what you feed her on a regular basis?

Hi Kiki!
They have 24/7 access to layer crumbles. But I think I was being too much of a breakfast mama - I was making them a breakfast of layer crumbles + “Omega Egg” protein + flax seed supplement, and adding in some non-fat organic yogurt for probiotics. I was giving too much protein! Lesson learned! They’ll be really disappointed in the morning when their breakfast bowl only has layer crumbles mixed with warm water! But it’s for their own good! What a lesson learned the hard way.

 

[Kiki]

Hi Kiki!
They have 24/7 access to layer crumbles. But I think I was being too much of a breakfast mama - I was making them a breakfast of layer crumbles + “Omega Egg” protein + flax seed supplement, and adding in some non-fat organic yogurt for probiotics. I was giving too much protein! Lesson learned! They’ll be really disappointed in the morning when their breakfast bowl only has layer crumbles mixed with warm water! But it’s for their own good! What a lesson learned the hard way.

Glad you learned. Unfortunately it seems most people have to learn the hard way.

 

[NatJ]

They’ll be really disappointed in the morning when their breakfast bowl only has layer crumbles mixed with warm water!

Were they disappointed?
Or did they like it just as well the new way?

 

[Chicken lover1980]

Happy to hear she's doing better! I hope she can make a full recovery!

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Can you tell me what antibiotics were prescribed? Penicillin, Doxycycline, Tylan? Please let me know.