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Swollen belly and watery poo - please help!!

Beckys Birds

Songster
May 27, 2022
301
1,162
216
South Central Kentucky
This is Cloud and she just turned two years old. She is my absolute favorite chicken.
I pulled her in to give her an Epsom salt soak to clean her poo encrusted backside off. Being as she is a large cochin, she tends to get a track of poo stuck to her butt feathers. It happens to her slightly smaller sister, Rain, as well. The last two weeks Could's booty has gotten really gross, worse than normal, so I wanted to clean her off. I was worried about fly strike. It's only been about three or four days since the last time I picked her up, and on that day she felt normal aside from her dirty butt. Today, however, she felt heavier and her belly below her vent is very distended. I washed off the dried poo, and pulled her out of the tote for a closer look. She then proceeded to explode a pint of water and dark chunks from her vent! It went everywhere! I've never seen poo like this before. I didnt take a picture because I had crap all over my phone, my couch, ME! Good lord it was awful, but it didn't stink. Cloud acted like it was awesome, and I swear the little feather brain was laughing at me. She's lucky I adore her.
Anyway, she is still very active, eating and drinking like normal, running when she sees me or hears hubby with the scratch bucket. She also laid an egg yesterday. Her and her sister lay the same small cream colored eggs, and there were two of those eggs yesterday evening. Me palpitating her belly doesn't bother her. Her comb and wattle are the normal bright red. She is not panting. No lice or mites. She is fed Nutrina Naturewise All Flock mixed with rolled oats, black oil sunflower seeds, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and Italian herb mix. I REALLY would take her to the vet if there was one who saw chickens within a 100 mile radius, but there isn't. Please, can anyone help me help Cloud? Thanks in advance.

***I have a glove on only to protect my wrist brace from the water... and poosplosion that happened. 🙄
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My first thought would be ascites or a reproductive issue. Since she's laying, I think a reproductive issue is less likely, but I could be wrong. But my guess would be ascites. Ascites is when an organ leaks fluid because its not functioning normally. Unfortunately there is no cure for it, all you can do is offer supportive care measures. If her abdomen get more enlarged you could attempt to drain it of fluid to relieve pressure on her insides.
But its an excellent sign she's acting completely normal! So for now I would just monitor her closely and watch if the abdomen gets bigger. If it does, you may want to look into draining, like I mentioned.
 
My first thought would be ascites or a reproductive issue. Since she's laying, I think a reproductive issue is less likely, but I could be wrong. But my guess would be ascites. Ascites is when an organ leaks fluid because its not functioning normally. Unfortunately there is no cure for it, all you can do is offer supportive care measures. If her abdomen get more enlarged you could attempt to drain it of fluid to relieve pressure on her insides.
But its an excellent sign she's acting completely normal! So for now I would just monitor her closely and watch if the abdomen gets bigger. If it does, you may want to look into draining, like I mentioned.
I was afraid of water belly, but she isn't showing any other symptoms. Maybe I'm doing the wishful thinking thing. I just don't want to lose my favorite girl. Water belly is a death sentence.
 
I was afraid of water belly, but she isn't showing any other symptoms. Maybe I'm doing the wishful thinking thing. I just don't want to lose my favorite girl. Water belly is a death sentence.
Maybe her abdomen isn't filled up enough to show symptoms such as labored/heavy breathing? Its the first thing I thought of, but maybe its not it and it could be something reproductive. I'll tag some experts who know more than me. @azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive
I completely understand not wanting to lose her, I'm the same way with my flock. And I have dealt with things like this before. :hugs
 
she is still very active, eating and drinking like normal, running when she sees me or hears hubby with the scratch bucket. She also laid an egg yesterday.

Me palpitating her belly doesn't bother her. Her comb and wattle are the normal bright red. She is not panting. No lice or mites.

She is fed Nutrina Naturewise All Flock mixed with rolled oats, black oil sunflower seeds, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and Italian herb mix.
The distention may be some fluid. Where it's originating (the cause) would be hard to know. (Heart, Liver/Fatty Liver, Reproductive, etc.)

At this time she's doing well, except for getting a messy bum. So she's not exhibiting "symptoms" as of yet.

I'd feed the All Flock free choice. Rolled Oats, Sunflower...give in a small amount a few times a week as a treat.

If possible, get a fecal float to see if deworming is needed.

Since she does have some distention, feel of that some more. If you feel that it is fluid, then try giving her Aloe Detox since you've noticed this early.

Coach has mentioned using Aloe Detox many times here on BYC, you can also search for it under her username. This is the info I saved since she explains usage and dosing. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...le-to-move-now-laid-egg.1446105/post-24045478
 

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