To drain or not to drain?

[MarlaMac]

Have a girl who I noticed standing awkwardly this evening. Kind of squatty, not wanting to move. She has a history of soft shell eggs - she has had at least one break inside.

Black australorp - between 2 - 4 years old. My flock is all australorps and my blacks are between the ages of 2 - 4; 3 - 4 are 4, about 6 are around 3 and 3 or so are around 2. Which group she belongs to, I have no idea.

I picked her up and felt of her. Sure enough she has a slightly tight, but squish area in her abdomen. I would say it is between the size of a tennis ball and a baseball.

Other than being still and standing in that awkward position and drawing the attention of some bullies, she is eating, drinking and staying with the flock. The flock free ranges all day and she travels back and forth with them throughout the day. The bullies usually just run her off the food tray (I have around 6 down at all times, so she isn't lacking food/water). Tonight, though, I saw one girl jump on her back which is what drew my attention to her.

My questions are as follows:

Should I drain the fluid? To be honest, I am not at all confident in this scenario. My husband is a trooper though and would gladly do it.

Will epsom salt baths give her any relief?

Will antibiotics help in any way? I have aqua-ceph.

I know the prognosis is not good, but that draining can provide relief. I don't want her to suffer. I have never had to cull a bird and at this juncture, I am not sure it is time to do so.

Any advice is appreciated in advance.

Thank you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I picked her up and felt of her. Sure enough she has a slightly tight, but squish area in her abdomen. I would say it is between the size of a tennis ball and a baseball.

She has a history of soft shell eggs - she has had at least one break inside.

Other than being still and standing in that awkward position and drawing the attention of some bullies, she is eating, drinking and staying with the flock.

Could she be having troubles expelling another egg or lash material?
Have you given her any extra calcium? If not, I would give her 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily for 5days to see if she expels anything/improves.

Slight feeling of tightness in the abdomen, it may be fluid (symptom called Ascites) or this could be a sign of the beginning of EYP, Salpingitis, etc. Hard to know.

It would be up to you to decide to drain or not. For me, the hen has to have clear symptoms of Ascites before I would consider draining. Swelling of the abdomen, tight like a drum. Respiratory distress and/or gurgling when breathing, not eating/drinking and lethargic, etc.

You can try an antibiotic to see if that makes a difference, but I would use something like Amoxicillin instead of Cephalexin which is mainly used for deep tissue infections (bumblefoot, broken bones, etc.).