pink belly? no feathers on the abdomen of 5yo hen

[QChickieMama]

Two of my cream leg bars are 2yo and their low bellies look distended with no feather coverage. Their combs are floppy over on one side. They look so disheveled. They're laying maybe once per week. What is this? Should I cull them or are they missing some nutrient?

 

[MyBabyHens]

Internal Laying/Egg Peritonitis:
Distended bellies, especially in older hens with reduced laying, can be a sign of internal laying where eggs are laid internally and absorbed or cause inflammation (peritonitis). This can be serious and lead to infection and death.
could also be reproductive Issues. as hens age, their reproductive systems can become less efficient, leading to issues like egg binding, soft-shelled eggs, or internal laying, which can all cause abdominal distension and reduced laying.

What food/nutrient do you provide ?

Less common but possible causes for distended bellies could be tumors, ascites (fluid accumulation), or organ issues. These would likely require veterinary diagnosis


Nutrient Supplementation:
You can try supplementing their diet with a high-quality layer feed, calcium (like oyster shell), and potentially a vitamin supplement if you think they might have a nutritional deficiency. This may help improve their overall health and potentially egg production if the issue is mostly-- if not completely-- nutritional.

Pictures can also help- I could be completely wrong too !

It is your choice, but i'd recommend only culling the hen IF they seem overly uncomfortable and are suffering, and you are unable to help them.

 

[QChickieMama]

Internal Laying/Egg Peritonitis:
Distended bellies, especially in older hens with reduced laying, can be a sign of internal laying where eggs are laid internally and absorbed or cause inflammation (peritonitis). This can be serious and lead to infection and death.
could also be reproductive Issues. as hens age, their reproductive systems can become less efficient, leading to issues like egg binding, soft-shelled eggs, or internal laying, which can all cause abdominal distension and reduced laying.

What food/nutrient do you provide ?

Less common but possible causes for distended bellies could be tumors, ascites (fluid accumulation), or organ issues. These would likely require veterinary diagnosis


Nutrient Supplementation:
You can try supplementing their diet with a high-quality layer feed, calcium (like oyster shell), and potentially a vitamin supplement if you think they might have a nutritional deficiency. This may help improve their overall health and potentially egg production if the issue is mostly-- if not completely-- nutritional.

Pictures can also help- I could be completely wrong too !

It is your choice, but i'd recommend only culling the hen IF they seem overly uncomfortable and are suffering, and you are unable to help them.

I give them oyster shell free choice and Layena layer feed. They get to free range 5 hrs/day. Despite good feed, someone is laying soft shelled eggs...

 

[Eggcessive]

If you can figure out which is laying the soft egg, you can try giving a human calcium citrate tablet with vitamin D 300-600 mg orally daily for a week. Have they molted recently? Pictures of them would be helpful.

 

[QChickieMama]

If you can figure out which is laying the soft egg, you can try giving a human calcium citrate tablet with vitamin D 300-600 mg orally daily for a week. Have they molted recently? Pictures of them would be helpful.

I was incorrect in title of post: they're 2yo, not 5yo. They look old!

Here's a sideways photo. Molted last fall, late. But now they kinda look askew all the time.

For what it's worth, our well water is high mineral water.

 

[Eggcessive]

The one in the picture does look like she has an enlarged lower abdomen with picked out feathers. Do you see her picking her own feathers or do the others seem to pull them out and eat them? How many chickens are there and how much room do they have? Do they seem bored when they are not out free ranging? What are you feeding them? Usually a hen who is having egg laying problems may have a lowered tail, be a little weak or sleepy, and may not be eating well.

 

[QChickieMama]

The one in the picture does look like she has an enlarged lower abdomen with picked out feathers. Do you see her picking her own feathers or do the others seem to pull them out and eat them? How many chickens are there and how much room do they have? Do they seem bired when theybare not out free ranging? What are you feeding them? Usually a hen who is having egg laying problems may have a lowered tail, be a little weak or sleepy, and may not be eating well.

One good rooster and 5 hens live in this pen. It's 12x12x12. I have 5 pens of chickens, so I haven' t spent much time noticing what this girl is doing.

 

[MyBabyHens]

kind of looks like it coulddd be waterbelly- but I'm not for sure for sure- just a "similar" thing. Does she have trouble breathing or vent-fluid leaking?

Are your chickens dewormed?

Seeing that you have proper calcium provided, the only other things I'd think were the issue with the eggs is stress, too much protein, or a vitamin D deficiency.

 

[QChickieMama]

kind of looks like it coulddd be waterbelly- but I'm not for sure for sure- just a "similar" thing. Does she have trouble breathing or vent-fluid leaking?

Are your chickens dewormed?

Seeing that you have proper calcium provided, the only other things I'd think were the issue with the eggs is stress, too much protein, or a vitamin D deficiency.

I've not noticed any other health issues for these girls.

I put DE in their food 2x/year, and in their nest bedding as well, for deworming.

Too much protein is curious. I'll research this idea. Thanks.

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure they are drinking well, since a droopy comb can be from dehydration. DE is not a wormer. Once it gets wet when eaten it is worthless. You would have better results worming with something like fenbendazole 10% (safeguard or panacur) 1.25 ml orally and repeat in 10 days.