Too many reproductive problems in the last month.

[ckuehn]

I had a 1 1/2 year old Speckled Sussex who had ascites/waterbelly a month ago. She was drained twice and she lost a LOT of water the last time. I started her on a round of enroflaxin and gave her lots of extra feed/protein. She was doing so well up until this morning (merged back in the flock, fighting to be the first to feed and treats). This morning she was standing still in the nesting area and later I found her in the nest with her eyes closed. I moved her to a quarantine area and she was shakily standing. Her back end was wet/unidentifiably wet. I thought maybe she had a broken egg in her so I gave her a calcium citrate dose. She was saying down when I left. Two hours later she was dead. Basically, I know acsites is a dead sentence although some hens can live with it for a while if they are4 drained and not infected. I had a Starlight Green Egger who lived nearly a year with it until nothing helped. Has anyone had this situation in their flock? One week ago, after a week of treatment and ups and downs, my 4 1/2 year old Copper Marans hen died of it. I am not sure if this is a trend. I have had chickens for almost six years now and we have had 3 former cases of this in all those years and two in the last week?

 

[StinkyAcres]

What is there diet including treats and supplements? Ascites can be caused by organ failure and a poor diet could result in organ failure. But it can also be caused by bad genetics.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I had a 1 1/2 year old Speckled Sussex who had ascites/waterbelly a month ago. She was drained twice and she lost a LOT of water the last time. I started her on a round of enroflaxin and gave her lots of extra feed/protein. She was doing so well up until this morning (merged back in the flock, fighting to be the first to feed and treats). This morning she was standing still in the nesting area and later I found her in the nest with her eyes closed. I moved her to a quarantine area and she was shakily standing. Her back end was wet/unidentifiably wet. I thought maybe she had a broken egg in her so I gave her a calcium citrate dose. She was saying down when I left. Two hours later she was dead. Basically, I know acsites is a dead sentence although some hens can live with it for a while if they are4 drained and not infected. I had a Starlight Green Egger who lived nearly a year with it until nothing helped. Has anyone had this situation in their flock? One week ago, after a week of treatment and ups and downs, my 4 1/2 year old Copper Marans hen died of it. I am not sure if this is a trend. I have had chickens for almost six years now and we have had 3 former cases of this in all those years and two in the last week?

Have you ever had a necropsy through your state lab or considered doing your own to take a look at the internal organs?

Ascites (a.k.a. Water Belly) is a Symptom and generally due to an underlying condition. There can be numerous causes, but a couple more common causes in laying hens are reproductive disorders and organ dysfunction (Hear, Liver).

If you still have the body, refrigerate it and take/send it to your state lab for analysis, the report of their findings usually will give the most information. You can find your lab in this link.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...R4ZpJmcY4UjuXdSBmVQXbAWaeRsXsSthzAMPbzDzH_Duy

If you do your own, look at the internal organs and reproductive system. Take photos and we'll try to help you with what you see.
The video below is helpful in identifying different organs and how they typically should look.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you ever had a respiratory virus in your flock called infectious bronchitis? It causes sneezing and congestion for several weeks, but most chickens recover. That can cause abnormal egg shells and later reproductive disorders. Reproductive disorders and water belly can be very common in hens over 2-3. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Mountain Roost]

Ascites Syndrome in Poultry

Ascites syndrome results from increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries when the heart tries to pump more blood through the lungs to meet the body’s oxygen requirement. The resultant volume and pressure overload on the right ventricle lead to dilatation and hypertrophy of the right ventricular wall, valvular insufficiency, RVF, and ascites.

In other words: When the right side of the heart fails, blood backs up into the veins, raising pressure throughout the body — especially in the liver and abdomen. This forces fluid to leak out of the blood vessels and collect in the abdominal cavity, causing ascites (a swollen belly full of fluid).

 

[Eggcessive]

Hens can suffer from ascites (water belly from several different causes, such as cancer, fatty liver disease, reproductive disorders, and right sided heart failure. I have seen ascites with several of those with home necropsies. Meat birds/broilers have ascites more commonly from heart failure.