Stumped - swollen abdomen

[JayneHens]

I have 7 hens all around 10 months old and regularly laying. No rooster and I’ve had 5 since last august and the other 2 since January. One of my hens (a Bluebell) has a large abdomen and always has a messy plumage which is very fluffy. I’ve bathed her twice in Epsom salts and a mild pet shampoo to wash poop off. Someone said she may have water belly (ascites). She eats very well and lays generally well. I’ve checked her for mites/fleas around vent area and can’t see anything. She waddles a bit but so does another of my larger hens. Wattle and crop seem fine. I did see her squat outside and seem to be struggling to lay an egg (not in usual nest box) and eventually lay but the egg was rubbery but normal shape and size. They were wormed with flubernet about a month ago. I’ve had a few eggs laid in the bottom of the roost that were soft shells and broken but don’t believe that’s her. The rubbery one was late in the afternoon which was really unusual. I’ve tried to draw off fluid from her abdomen on right side about 2-3 inches below but no fluid came out. She seems fine in every other way. I few of the hens shake their heads a little but it’s not continual. Another hen sometimes seems a little lethargic. They have good quality layers pellets, ACV in their water. I really am stumped and our vets here don’t want to see or help with chickens

 

[Wezdin]

I'm not a surgery expert but that does look like ascites. However, if she is acting okay and you tried to drain for ascites with no luck I would just monitor her for any further problems

 

[JayneHens]

Thanks for your thoughts. When I read up on ascites it says they go of food etc but she certainly isn’t off food or drink. She’s really greedy. I wondered if she was overweight but I’d have to separate her from others to restrict her. She’s supposed to be bigger breed than others though and was large even when young compared to others

 

[newshound]

Thanks for your thoughts. When I read up on ascites it says they go of food etc but she certainly isn’t off food or drink. She’s really greedy. I wondered if she was overweight but I’d have to separate her from others to restrict her. She’s supposed to be bigger breed than others though and was large even when young compared to others

Did you ever find out? I have a hen like this, she also has diarrhea but acts starved and greedy when eating. She is also thin on the breastbone. She can't hop up anymore. But other wise acts fine. She is not laying.