Swollen belly on my hen

[Brittski923]

I had noticed my hen not socializing for a week or two. I figured she was just hiding from the rooster. Today when I finally got a hold of her I realized whata terrible chicken mom i am. i washed off her butt and realized it was incredibly swollen and tight. It feels like a full tight water ballon. I put on a surgical glove and feel no egg or anything else blocking the vent. Her feathers are wet here.

 

[Shezadandy]

She has waterbelly and/or ascities. You can drain this using a 14 or 16 gauge needle, no longer than 1". These needles can be found at any farm supply store by the cattle vaccinations.

Here is a video that is an excellent how-to. Draining will not cure the underlying issue, whatever it may be- but getting all that fluid out of her will get her back to eating normally. The watery green poop is a direct result of all the fluid compressing her organs and not leaving room for her to digest food.

In the video she starts off using a syringe to drain the hens. I've stopped doing that because I usually don't have a 2nd pair of hands - I just insert the needle (again, video gives great instructions) and let the fluid drain that way, at a slower pace, which she does towards the end of the video.

I had noticed my hen not socializing for a week or two. I figured she was just hiding from the rooster. Today when I finally got a hold of her I realized whata terrible chicken mom i am. i washed off her butt and realized it was incredibly swollen and tight. It feels like a full tight water ballon. I put on a surgical glove and feel no egg or anything else blocking the vent. Her feathers are wet

 

[Chicalina]

I agree. Ascites.

I had a hen live for years with this. Just had to drain it every now and then.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can also use an 18 gauge needle if that is the biggest size you can find. I used a 20 or 22 gauge last year on my bantam hen because that was all I had. The opening may continue to leak fluid after the needle is removed. I would recommend placing her on a clean towel afterward, to soak up any leaking fluid. There is always a risk of death or infection when draining, but it can temporarily relieve pressure and labored breathing. Ascites fluid is yellow to brown. If there is clear colorless fluid, that can be a cystic right oviduct, and not ascites. That is when the right oviduct does not disappear as it usually does. Here are some good pictures in post 42 of a hen being drained:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-5