URGENT hen with potential water belly not eating or drinking

[Wyorp Rock]

Keep us posted.

I hope she pulls through.

 

[Belovedturkey]

Keep us posted.

I hope she pulls through.

I will, and me too.

 

[Belovedturkey]

I offered her some fresh scrambled egg and some watermelon. She showed mild interest in the watermelon so I left the food with her. I got some fluids in her, she still won’t drink over own but she let me put water in her beak and swallows. She pooped once last night I have a picture of her sitting in a chair, how she is on the floor and her poop. I have her in the chair when she’s not in her cage because she sits in it without falling. She’s still very bloated and skinny, her crop emptied over night though.

 

[D Uccle Uncle]

I question about her bloating.

I lost an elderly hen to a water belly-related condition a couple months ago. That was the first time I'd seen the condition, and for sure it felt like a squishy water balloon (or large watery blister) behind/above her belly skin.

When you say that your hen is bloated, is her belly really squishy? Like you push one side and the fluid instantly goes to the other?

 

[Belovedturkey]

I question about her bloating.

I lost an elderly hen to a water belly-related condition a couple months ago. That was the first time I'd seen the condition, and for sure it felt like a squishy water balloon (or large watery blister) behind/above her belly skin.

When you say that your hen is bloated, is her belly really squishy? Like you push one side and the fluid instantly goes to the other?

It is like that, I’ve wondered about water belly, it was my first thought but apparently it’s not common in bantams and she is so I haven’t tried to suck any fluid out of her yet I’ve been focusing on getting her eating because she’s emancipated. I’ve also had a hen with water belly once, but she wasn’t lethargic and she was eating and drinking and running around until the day she died, but I might have just been lucky with her being so happy and healthy ish despite the waterbelly

 

[D Uccle Uncle]

Mine, a RIR, went from normal to lethargic in 2 days. Wouldn't eat, would drink water if it was presented to her beak. Her eyes were staring out into nowhere and she wasn't comfortable even standing up.

The amount of fluid she'd collected was substantial, and she might have been over 7 years old. She was put to rest after refusing food for 2 days. Draining the fluid might have allowed her to recover some, but I reason that would make me feel more comfortable than her.

 

[Belovedturkey]

She’s not eating so I squirted some chicken food mashed with a lot of water into her beak and she ate some of that. There’s yellow fluid on her towel that I assume she pooped out. Shes having a really hard time standing on her feet, every time she tries to stand or move her feet go back and her toes curl. Her bloating is not getting any better, should I try to drain her some?

 

[D Uccle Uncle]

I suggest reading this thread to get a better sense of the pros/cons of draining.

If you don't drain her, I wouldn't expect her to improve at all. If you do drain her, there are risks associated with draining her, but you might buy her some more time.

 

[Belovedturkey]

I’ve decided I’m going to drain her and depending on how she reacts to that is how I’ll move forward. If she gets any worse I’ll probably cull her because I don’t want her to suffer and at this point any worse she’ll be having a life that is not worth living.

 

[D Uccle Uncle]

Sounds like you're on a good path.

You might consider empirically treating for worms. I don't think you have anything to lose, and there's an outside chance that worms could be blocking something somewhere.