Swollen abdomen, doesn't fit normal symptoms

[Gardengirl941]

Hello all,
I have a leghorn hen about 5 years old. We recently noticed she had a bare bottom and upon closer inspection, a very swollen abdomen. At first I thought it may be egg binding so we gave her a warm epsom salt bath for a couple days nothing happened. I inserted my finger into her cloaca and felt no egg. Then, we thought it may be EYP, which it still could be but she isn't displaying any of those symptoms either. Then I thought maybe acietes, but her belly is hard. It does not feel like a water balloon. She is very active, eating, drinking, normal stools, not penguin stance, not hunkered down. I do not have and avian or poultry vet here in the vicinity which is weird because 5 miles north is a rural farm area. The farm vets there treat livestock, but not poultry. I am wondering what it could be and how should I treat it? I have no access to poultry antibiotics or treatment other than a traditional vet who in my past experience with other hens had no clue. Advice?

 

[The Coop Crew]

@azygous
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock

 

[azygous]

Your hen may simply be carrying extra weight. If she is behaving completely normally, it's unlikely she has a health issue other than maybe risking fatty liver disease at some future point.

 

[Eggcessive]

Has she been laying eggs recently? It does sound like she could have coelomitis/egg yolk peritonitis or salpingitis. Cancer is also common in hens over 2-3 years old. None of those conditions is very treatable unless any infection is caught early. Some will get enrofloxacin 10% liquid and give it 1 mg per kilogram (every 2 .2 pounds) orally twice a day for 5 days. Jedds.com sells that online. Egg withdrawal time could be as long as a month.

 

[Gardengirl941]

Your hen may simply be carrying extra weight. If she is behaving completely normally, it's unlikely she has a health issue other than maybe risking fatty liver disease at some future point.

Oh no, this isn't extra weight...this is definitely something different. Not normal at all. Her belly is very bloated and hard.

 

[Gardengirl941]

Has she been laying eggs recently? It does sound like she could have coelomitis/egg yolk peritonitis or salpingitis. Cancer is also common in hens over 2-3 years old. None of those conditions is very treatable unless any infection is caught early. Some will get enrofloxacin 10% liquid and give it 1 mg per kilogram (every 2 .2 pounds) orally twice a day for 5 days. Jedds.com sells that online. Egg withdrawal time could be as long as a month.

It's excessively hot here in Florida. Upper 90s. None of my hens lay much now. I thought it may be EYP as well...but she didn't exhibit any of the symptoms other than the swollen abdomen. I will look up Jedds and see if I can obtain the enrofloxacin. I imagine her condition is not curable, but I want her to be comfortable and living her best hen life until she cannot. If she gets to that point, I will have her put to sleep. I was just hoping that I could buy her extra time as long as she is living normally. Thank you for your input.