Not egg bound... clear fluid?

[GenevieveHad]

So I’ve had a hen acting like she’s egg bound for about 2-3 weeks now... she stands like a penguin. I had been giving her extra calcium and Epsom salt baths regularly when it first started, I couldn’t feel an egg inside of her so when her condition didn’t get better I brought her to the vet. She has a bit of a bulging belly that looks kind of bruised when she’s wet? The vet said she wasn’t egg bound and the fluid inside of her was basically water? No infection.
They weren’t sure exactly what was wrong with her... possibly some heart condition? Didn’t know if anyone had any similar experiences or know what could be wrong? Had a friend with round worms? Could this be causing these problems? Thanks in advance for all the help!!

 

[GenevieveHad]

sometimes she stands normally (mostly when she’s walking around) but then other times she stands like this

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry no one replied, how is your hen doing?

 

[GenevieveHad]

about the same... she eats and walks around. still not laying eggs. My friend told me she could have worms maybe so I’ve been de worming my entire flock

 

[GenevieveHad]

 

[Eggcessive]

It won’t hurt to worm the chickens, but I would suspect that your hen may have reproductive disorder, such as salpingitis, internally laid lash eggs, ascites, or cancer. The upright standing, enlarged lower belly, and lowered tail are signs. You can insert a clean finger inside her vent to feel for a stuck egg, just to rule out egg binding. It is hard to say how long she will live, but I would let her go on with her usual activities. Watch to make sure that others do not peck at her, or that she starts to suffer. A hen with ascites can be drained periodically if the belly is large and tight, to relive pressure.

 

[GenevieveHad]

It won’t hurt to worm the chickens, but I would suspect that your hen may have reproductive disorder, such as salpingitis, internally laid lash eggs, ascites, or cancer. The upright standing, enlarged lower belly, and lowered tail are signs. You can insert a clean finger inside her vent to feel for a stuck egg, just to rule out egg binding. It is hard to say how long she will live, but I would let her go on with her usual activities. Watch to make sure that others do not peck at her, or that she starts to suffer. A hen with ascites can be drained periodically if the belly is large and tight, to relive pressure.

thank you for the response! She’s eating and drinking just fine, her comb has started to droop More though, it’s still red though. She hasn’t laid eggs and both me and and the vet have checked her for egg bound eggs. How do you drain her with ascites? Is that something I’m able to do or do I need to take her to the vet?

 

[pekincochin12]

thank you for the response! She’s eating and drinking just fine, her comb has started to droop More though, it’s still red though. She hasn’t laid eggs and both me and and the vet have checked her for egg bound eggs. How do you drain her with ascites? Is that something I’m able to do or do I need to take her to the vet?

You'd have to insert a needle into the abdomen. If you don't know where to put it, I'd have a vet show you.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can disinfect the skin with Betadine or Chlorhexidene, and insert an 18 gauge needle just under the skin of the abdomen. Once you do that, yellow fluid will leak from the needle onto a towel place under her. This thread in post 42 shows the needle in position of a hen being drained:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-5

 

[pekincochin12]

You'd have to insert a needle into the abdomen. If you don't know where to put it, I'd have a vet show you.

Would like to add that this is not a permanent solution, but can improve her quality of life. It will refill.