poorly chicken

[parsnipples]

no kathy she's about an hour into her steam bath,

 

[parsnipples]

no kathy shes about one hour into her steam bath.

 

[parsnipples]

She has been steaming now for almost two hours...im going to check for an egg when she comes out. I did feel earlier but i couldnt feel an egg...im so confused as to which direction etc to put my finger, im very nervous about doing this. (for example do i head upwards or straight in?) I seem to get about two centremetres in...is this enough or should i be going deeper? thank you.

 

[casportpony]

She has been steaming now for almost two hours...im going to check for an egg when she comes out. I did feel earlier but i couldnt feel an egg...im so confused as to which direction etc to put my finger, im very nervous about doing this. (for example do i head upwards or straight in?) I seem to get about two centremetres in...is this enough or should i be going deeper? thank you.

When they have a stuck egg I can feel it before my first knuckle is in, but going in further I have been able to feel cancer in some and egg bits from internal laying in others.

-Kathy

 

[parsnipples]

i have left mavis steaming for another hour. she has two massive normal looking poops and also did a trump....is this a good thing?

 

[parsnipples]

Right im calling upon all chicken eggsperts xxMavis is still alive!!! thank god x she is still showing interest in water and a limited interest in food. however no egg...maybe a wrong diagnosis. i cant see how she would still be alive after five days of this. her abdomen still feels really heavy and she is still unable to stand. she also has a head twitch from time to time which can last a few seconds. i have made her what i can only describe as a sling. it supports her and im feeding her and giving her water every hour. i gave her another calcium tablet crushed with some live yoghurt this morning. and she has more strength in her neck than yesterday. she is in a quiet warm dark place. what can i do.....i have spent so many hours now tending this sick little hen that i cant give up on her...and besides the only other option ive been given is to either take her back to the breeder...who will wring her little neck...or stick with it. im getting up twice during the night to make her drink a little. Please help us..i have only been keeping chickens two weeks, and really need advice and help. thank you x

 

[parsnipples]

MYSTERY ILLNESS...PLEASE HELP !! thank you

 

[cafarmgirl]

When you say that her abdomen feels heavy do you mean that she feels swollen in her lower abdomen? If so she likely has ascites. That is fluid retention with several possible causes, none of them good or fixable. It can be caused by egg laying/reproductive tract problems such as internal laying/peritonitis, cancers or other tumors, it can also be caused by heart or other major organ problems that result in poor circulation, therefore the fluid builds up in the body cavities. Eventually it gets to where the chicken just doesn't have enough room to breath. Feather loss below the vent and sometimes redness in the area is common in birds with internal laying issues and/or peritonitis. These birds can be drained but it is a temporary fix at best as it does not cure the underlying cause and the fluid always returns.

 

[parsnipples]

When you say that her abdomen feels heavy do you mean that she feels swollen in her lower abdomen? If so she likely has ascites. That is fluid retention with several possible causes, none of them good or fixable. It can be caused by egg laying/reproductive tract problems such as internal laying/peritonitis, cancers or other tumors, it can also be caused by heart or other major organ problems that result in poor circulation, therefore the fluid builds up in the body cavities. Eventually it gets to where the chicken just doesn't have enough room to breath. Feather loss below the vent and sometimes redness in the area is common in birds with internal laying issues and/or peritonitis. These birds can be drained but it is a temporary fix at best as it does not cure the underlying cause and the fluid always returns.

Yes her abdomen feels swollen. Thank you so much for your advice. i cant believe the hours of internet info i have read about ill chickens and never once did i come across ascites....i am frantically googling right now and will prob be spending another crazy night watching my poorly little hen and hoping for the very best. she does seem to be making more movement in the last couple of hours. she is trying to walk but her wings are still really droopy. however she has wolfed down some oregano and pecked a little at her corn and seed. i really do hope there is something that i can do. crazy at it seems im all consumed at the moment with making her well again. i refuse to have her euthanised whilst she is still eating and drinking as past experience with birds (of the garden variety) tells me that if a bird that is going to die it has no interest in food drink or company.

 

[Bayford21]

Yes like stated above it could be ascites below the vent will be watery and puffy. Take a 16 gauge needle and stick her two inches under vent two inches to side. Water will drain if it doesn't flow use syringe. Also is her comb blueish or flopped more than usual?