Ruby’s Toe is Broken & Possible Ascites

[micstrachan]

Came home last night and Ruby was on her usual roost. This morning she was in a nesting box. After all the other girls came out, I walked into the coop to see her. Ruby greeted me with one of her normal sounds and stood up. I helped her down, but I’m not totally sure she needed it. She came out and ate a little. She favors the foot a little, but it diesn’t seem to be a huge issue. Now she’s sitting (along with the other two lowest ranked flock mates, for whatever reason... the other two always end to sit more in the morning) and her tail looks a little pumpy. However, after feeling her belly, I’m wondering if she’s just breathing heavy when sitting and she’s sitting more with the foot. I’ll feel her again to confirm, but I’m super bummed. Pretty sure my girl has ascites, and since I don’t think she started laying after molt... well... you know how that goes. Not sure yet what course of action I’ll be taking. I think it will depend on her. Avian vets are tricky right now and I think we’re still going on a road trip. I’d like to have her drained and examined at least.

 

[micstrachan]

 

[Bamabexchicks]

Does she always have skid mark's on her britches? Does her poop look normal, no stuff that oozes like with vent gleet?

 

[micstrachan]

I’m going to observe for now. Considering draining myself with just a needle, but don’t want to introduce infection. Ugh. I know I already said this, but I’m super bummed. Have been concerned for her for some time, but I think the ascites is new.i feel my girls over pretty regularly in the crops and abdomens. Ruby weighed in alarmingly heavy recently after several months of not weighing. Duh. I missed that red flag. Thought it was likely weighing error.

 

[azygous]

I forget how old Ruby is. If she's getting up there in years, her breathing may be a bit labored. I have an eleven year old hen whose tail goes up and down when she breathes, but she's otherwise as active as all the others. I don't see that Ruby is pumping her tail due to any egg issue.

 

[Bamabexchicks]

I forget how old Ruby is. If she's getting up there in years, her breathing may be a bit labored. I have an eleven year old hen whose tail goes up and down when she breathes, but she's otherwise as active as all the others. I don't see that Ruby is pumping her tail due to any egg issue.

A few posts back Michelle said there is a respiratory issue with her flock, could this be what's happening here?

 

[micstrachan]

L

Does she always have skid mark's on her britches? Does her poop look normal, no stuff that oozes like with vent gleet?

Yeah, she’s a little messy. Dust bathing has been a challenge with all the rain, so a few of them are a little soiled. I treated her awhile back with a long course of Clotrimazole for doughy crop. Thinking this could be an after effect of that OR the true cause for the doughy crop is presenting. I promised my daughter we’d take the dog to the beach this morning, so I’m not letting these girls out to range yet, but will eventually and will load a video for you all to see. Maybe later when it’s warm I’ll give her a warm soak and get a good look at (and photo of) her belly. She was pretty pink back there with a small bulge beneath her vent last summer.

 

[micstrachan]

I forget how old Ruby is. If she's getting up there in years, her breathing may be a bit labored. I have an eleven year old hen whose tail goes up and down when she breathes, but she's otherwise as active as all the others. I don't see that Ruby is pumping her tail due to any egg issue.

She’s only two. Glad it doesn’t look like egg issue to you. She’s a little slower than normal and lately has been staying closer to the run than the others during free range time. However, when I got up from sitting with them, they thought I was letting them out and she was first in line!

 

[micstrachan]

 

[micstrachan]

So here’s an update. Ruby’s broken toe is not the main issue. She’s favoring it a bit, but I can see it bend (to the side) when she walks. I think we’re going to let it be and she’ll just have a crooked toe. She just dust bathed without a problem.

Her abdomen is DEFINITELY swollen compared to the flock mates I just checked. But she’s talking and is happy to be out free ranging today. Tail is up. Walk is pehaps a little waddley and she’s drinking a lot. I know the long term outcome is probably not favorable, but not rushing into any course of action right now. Thoughts?