Sick hen!!! Swollen abdomen.

[chickybae]

My mother inlaw has a hen with an extremely swollen abdomen! She doesn't want to move much, just stands around in pain, seems to be straining. I soaked her in warm water and massaged her belly, and felt around inside for an egg but found nothing. When I pulled my finger out of the vent, an egg white substance came out along with some puss colored goo. It was not a lot, but it was gross. She still eats and drinks, just does not move much. She is just very swollen and painful. What else can I do for her??

 

[seminolewind]

It sounds like egg yolk peritonitis or ascites. Neither one is good, and if she's in pain, you may have to decide what you want to do.

 

[chickybae]

How can I treat it??

 

[seminolewind]

If it's egg yolk peritonitis there's no treatment. With ascites, some people drain their abdomen with a needle, but it's not a cure. It's just to relieve the pain for a while.