Older hen looking ill with weight loss and swollen abdomen-UPDATED

[dlhunicorn]

there are many underlying conditions that will have ascites secondary to them ...
cold will exacerbate ascites particularly in the heavier type birds...

 

[I'M On Island Time]

Cold weather will?

This seemed to have started when the temps got down to -37F here. It was absolutely miserably frigid for weeks. They have a heat lamp(s) and it is controlled with a thermostat, but I still think there are pretty big temp swings inside the coop, particularly when the wind is blowing and the wind chill was -58F at times.

It has been several days, and her belly has not filled up with anymore fluid. I think there is still some in there because it is a wee bit puffy right at the bottom, but I need to wait for my DH to come home and hold her for me.

She laid an egg yesterday, also, and went outside with everyone for a few hours because we finally got above freezing and it was nice and sunny and relatively comfortable compared to what it has been. She walked up and down the driveway with the other chickens, pecked and scratched around a little, and seems just fine!

 

[BeccaSmith]

Cold weather will?

This seemed to have started when the temps got down to -37F here. It was absolutely miserably frigid for weeks. They have a heat lamp(s) and it is controlled with a thermostat, but I still think there are pretty big temp swings inside the coop, particularly when the wind is blowing and the wind chill was -58F at times.

It has been several days, and her belly has not filled up with anymore fluid. I think there is still some in there because it is a wee bit puffy right at the bottom, but I need to wait for my DH to come home and hold her for me.

She laid an egg yesterday, also, and went outside with everyone for a few hours because we finally got above freezing and it was nice and sunny and relatively comfortable compared to what it has been. She walked up and down the driveway with the other chickens, pecked and scratched around a little, and seems just fine!

Hi! I know this is an older thread, but I'm wondering how your hen did after your last update? If she is no longer with you, I'd like to know how long she lived after your last update and if she had any fluid build up return!