Swollen abdomen, not egg bound, lethargic

[lexibarb]

My 1 1/2 year old barred rock became suddenly ill today. Lethargic, unable to walk or stand for a period, possible fever and with abdomen distended. While I was running the warm water to treat for egg bound, I placed her in the nest where she passed an egg. Her crop was also watery, squishy and full, so wondering if sour crop so I gently massaged and she expelled mostly water some yellowish fluid when I tilted her head down. I proceeded with the warm epsom salt bath and she was very thirsty drinking the water in the tub. There is no egg palpable in the vent and it feels like a large open area, with some yellow drainage minimal, when I checked the vent. Her vent continues to contract like she is trying to expel something. I have placed her in an isololated place for the last 2 hours but she remains lethargic, not standing and has refilled the crop with water and her abdomen(?-or area diretly below the vent) remains distended and full. I have only pet hens. They have a 12x12 coop with 2 nest boxes, and an outdoor run for the day. I feed Layena feed, scratch feed, and grit with some meal worm treats. I give soem greek yogurt, but it usually the other hen that prefers it. She recently changed nesting boxes and may have skipped a day. Not sure whether to offer food/water, or withold it, and which direction to go.

 

[Eggcessive]

You could offer her some cooked egg, plain yogurt, and a small amount of very watery feed, but no scratch or whole grains. When hens experience laying or reproductive problems, they may feel weak or lethargic for a day or two. Hopefully, she will perk up, but if she has an infection or this is going to happen often, she may not feel better. I would just make sure that she is taking a lot of water, and add some electrolytes or NutriDrench to give her a boost. Giving her 1/2 of a human calcium tablet or Tums, or some crushed up egg shell with a small amount of cooked egg might help her pass the next egg better. Crop emptying or crop problems (impacted or sour crop) can be common during reproductive problems, due to the pressure on abdominal organs from internal laying or infection. Sorry that she feels bad, and I hope she gets back to normal. Here is a good article about crop problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[ChickNanny13]

I would also add a separate dish of Oyster Shells for them to eat as needed.

 

[saym]

if you can find info on Ascites (sp) where the chest, abdomen keeps filling with fluid..I had to take a hyperdermic needle, poke into the fluid and suck it out.This happened to two of my Barred Rocks, a couple of times. They went on with their lives just fine

 

[lexibarb]

Thank you all! She is somewhat better and standing this evening, but the chest and abdomen are full of fluid. I found some info on Ascites and may try the procedure to see if I can give her some relief, just hesitant to do so, at the same time not knowing how long I can wait to see if she begins to improve on her own. Glad to know it has gone well for others.

 

[Eggcessive]

If her chest is full of fluid, are you describing her crop being squishy? Ascites is fluid in the lower abdomen, when there is liver failure. Liver problems can be from heart failure or is also seen in egg yolk peritonitis and cancer of the oviduct and liver. Here is a good video about removing fluid:

 

[lexibarb]

No, it's her abdomen, and I dont think it will resolve without intervention. This is one of the sites I viewed, very helpful.

 

[saym]

I know it's hard to do it the first couple of times, my hens showed no discomfort having the needle penetrate..and they were certainly relieved! Good luck and maybe try this other procedure too!

 

[lexibarb]

 

[lexibarb]

So this is my girl 2 days after she was sick, and less swollen now 6 days later. I tried the procedure once but could not get the fluid to drain. I think I should have removed the syringe from the needle after inserted because there was a negative pressure on the syringe but did not want to stick her more than twice although she didn’t seem to mind. I planned to try again the following day but then she seemed fine, eating and laying and back to her normal self, so wondering if I should still proceed with trying to remove some of the fluid. The egg she passed originally when sick was paperthin but now she is back to normal eggs. So, was she eggbound afterall and now resolved and back to norm or does this seem like ascites that needs more treatment?