Penguining, Swollen Belly, White Bumps??

[RiceHolisticGarden]

Hello BYC,
Our 3 year old hen Lagniappe was discovered this morning to be penguining. At first we thought she was egg bound so we soaked her in an epsom salt bath and gave her 400mg of calcium, but upon further inspection we discovered that her featherless belly was swollen, distended, and covered with these bizarre white spots. I've never seen those spots before and have no idea what they are. As for her belly, we think it could be water belly but she is bright, alert, and breathing normally (none of the respiratory distress associated with ascites).

She stopped penguining and was eating fine, crop full, pecking around the herbs as of this evening. We don't know if it is egg binding exactly, as Lagniappe has had a history of something akin to egg yolk peritonitis from a couple years back (she expelled whatever was stuck in her tract herself) and has been fine until now.

Some theories we have about the white spots:

• THEORY 1: The white spots are abrasion marks from her distended belly rubbing against the roost. Lagniappe has been aggressively broody for a while so she might have pecked all her feathers from her belly herself. She also has just undergone several weeks of bumblefoot treatment (doing much better now thank goodness!), so her feet have been bandaged. Maybe the combination of distended belly, no feathers, and balancing strangely due to bandaged feet could have resulted in those marks?
• THEORY 2: Those white spots are nodules left behind from when Lagniappe pulled her feathers out.

What do y'all think about her possible diagnosis and treatments? We will continue to give her epsom soaks and calcium in the following days, but we just don't know about the rest of her symptoms.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They look almost like whiteheads. Have you squeezed any to see if pus comes out of the pustules? She looks to have a slight bruise and some scabbing as well.

I'd make sure she's staying dry.

If you are soaking her in something, this may be an irritant to her as well(?).

If she's eating/drinking and acting o.k. for now, then I'd observe her. Having bloat with a Penguin stance, she may be having some reproductive issues if she's been broody and is coming out of it. Giving the Calcium for several days is a good idea.

 

[Eggcessive]

Those could be ant bites I would guess. Do you have some permethrin spray to treat your coop and run?

 

[RiceHolisticGarden]

Thanks for the quick responses! We're going to give her a break from the soaks for a bit, and when we checked this morning those spots seem to be a bit better. We're thinking it must be irritation from all those salt soaks when she had bumblefoot.

Her swollen belly continues to be a great concern. She's still eating normally, bright eyed, no more penguining, but we haven't seen her defecate (at least, no solid matter. There may be liquid but we can't tell). We'll keep giving her calcium and updating, so any other thoughts would be much appreciated!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the quick responses! We're going to give her a break from the soaks for a bit, and when we checked this morning those spots seem to be a bit better. We're thinking it must be irritation from all those salt soaks when she had bumblefoot.

Her swollen belly continues to be a great concern. She's still eating normally, bright eyed, no more penguining, but we haven't seen her defecate (at least, no solid matter. There may be liquid but we can't tell). We'll keep giving her calcium and updating, so any other thoughts would be much appreciated!

Try to get photos of her poop.

Swelling of the abdomen - does it feel like fluid? Sometimes draining is needed if the hen is in distress - difficulty breathing, lethargy, etc.
Ascites (Water Belly) is a symptom, so draining can sometimes bring some relief but the underlying condition will still exist.

Since she's eating/drinking, sounds like moving about o.k., (?) then you may want to try Aloe Detox to see if that helps with bloat/swelling. It may or may not, but it would avoid draining at this time unless you feel like she needs draining. You are there to feel the abdomen, so of course, you do what you feel is needed.


Coach posted information on the Aloe Detox and how she uses it in this post.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...le-to-move-now-laid-egg.1446105/post-24045478

 

[RiceHolisticGarden]

Bumps are getting better! The belly is still swollen and very red. Her behavior is normal, but she's produced some strange looking diarrhea just now-- could these be lumps of yolk? They're yellow. She has had a history of egg yolk peritonitis where she eventually expelled what looked like egg whites and then recovered, but I can't tell whether these particular lumps are from her reproductive tract or from yesterday's lunch (we fed her an egg).

We've just fed her her first 4mL of aloe detox and will continue to update

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's hard to tell, it looks like undigested food.

Does she have Grit (Crushed Granite) available free choice?

I'd just keep watch on the droppings and see how they look over the next few days.
Hopefully the Aloe Detox will be of benefit to her. Keep us posted.