Swollen abdomen

[Cragg Klefor]

This is what I got out of one of mine....that's a quart jar....during necropsy.
View attachment 1654411

Did you ever drain her Aart? Just curious.

 

[aart]

Did you ever drain her Aart? Just curious.

Nope, not before she was euthanized.
Why?
-From all I read, and I read a lot when I first encountered it,
draining and meds have a very low rate of success and IMO only prolongs their suffering.
-I believe that ascites is a sign of serious disease/infection and I don't use antibiotics,
I raise chickens for 'clean' food, they are not pets.

This was confirmed when I did necropsies.
In one I found lesions on tightly bunched intestines,
so many that nothing could pass thru them.
This was diagnosed via photos by a poultry vet as probable avian luekosis, a virus that can't be 'cured'.
In another I found black egg yolks in the reproductive tract and abdomen...not exactly sure what that was.

 

[DS17]

Good job DS17 I'm sure your girl is feeling so much better now.
I would be really interested to hear how the detox goes, I have never used it, but would be very interested in trying it.
I hope your little chicken gets to have a good quality of life for however long that is, they are worth it!!

I went ahead with the detox yesterday as there was still a little puffiness and I didn’t want to drain again. I went out this morning to give the daily dose of detox and found that she now has sour crop. I emptied the crop some (I didn’t want to push the issue, even though her outcome looks bleak) gave her a yeast treatment and will give the detox tonight.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I went ahead with the detox yesterday as there was still a little puffiness and I didn’t want to drain again. I went out this morning to give the daily dose of detox and found that she now has sour crop. I emptied the crop some (I didn’t want to push the issue, even though her outcome looks bleak) gave her a yeast treatment and will give the detox tonight.

Keep us posted on how it goes. Often a crop problem like this is a symptom/complication of another condition - in your case, the fluid in the belly and/or reproductive disorder.
The fluid is constricting the internal organs/intestines which slows the digestive process. Hopefully this will partially resolve once some of the fluid is reabsorbed.

 

[Melky]

Walking isn’t easy for her. I saw her eat some this morning but I don’t think she has had a drink. I have a heated water bowl outside their raised coop. I can put water in the coop for her, once it gets above freezing later. I can hear and see her breathing, it seems a little mire labored than the others. Comb is not pale yet.

Thanks for the video. I may have to give draining a try.

I would probably pull her inside separate from the flock to monitor her and provide own food/water with OS and poultry grit as needed on the side. Definitely would recommend vet ASAP as you are just treating the symptom without known cause.

 

[DS17]

I would probably pull her inside separate from the flock to monitor her and provide own food/water with OS and poultry grit as needed on the side. Definitely would recommend vet ASAP as you are just treating the symptom without known cause.

Thank you for your input. Unfortunately, even if there was a poultry vet in my area, it is not economical for me. I have chickens for the eggs. I care for them to the best of my ability, and will keep them around even when they are no longer laying. But after 3 large dogs and 11 cats it is not within my budget to take a chicken to the vet. I so appreciate everyone’s input here and try to give the best care I can to my chickens. I will separate if she is getting picked on or not eating and drinking. But I have had issues with bullying in the past when I’ve separated, so I try not unless absolutely required.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You're doing good. Keep us posted.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Nope, not before she was euthanized.
Why?
-From all I read, and I read a lot when I first encountered it,
draining and meds have a very low rate of success and IMO only prolongs their suffering.
-I believe that ascites is a sign of serious disease/infection and I don't use antibiotics,
I raise chickens for 'clean' food, they are not pets.

This was confirmed when I did necropsies.
In one I found lesions on tightly bunched intestines,
so many that nothing could pass thru them.
This was diagnosed via photos by a poultry vet as probable avian luekosis, a virus that can't be 'cured'.
In another I found black egg yolks in the reproductive tract and abdomen...not exactly sure what that was.

I have not drained either. Prolonged suffering is always on my mind with ascites, but mine are pets. Even so, don't know if I will ever actually drain. We shall see. Thanks for reply!