BawkbawkB
In the Brooder
- Aug 6, 2025
- 16
- 31
- 49
Hi everyone,
I have a chicken that hasn't laid an egg in over a year. She had a hard molt in the fall of 2024 (full molt, lethargic, lost weight) and she never physically bounced back. She grew back her feathers and regained her energy but she has remained very thin. Her belly is very squishy, but not big enough to cause her any mobility issues. Until the last few days, she was the pluckiest out of the gang; now she is lethargic. I kept her indoors without food today since her crop felt abnormal yesterday afternoon. It emptied 80% overnight and no odor at all, so sour crop unlikely. She poops mostly water, so maybe her crop was just a reflection of her high water consumption.
My best guess is water belly, but I've gathered that it is chronic and there isn't much to do about it. Is that true? I don't want to try and drain her, if it just keeps filling and she continues to waste. Is this a euthanasia situation? Open to any ideas and questions to figure this out.
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
From today
From last night
I have a chicken that hasn't laid an egg in over a year. She had a hard molt in the fall of 2024 (full molt, lethargic, lost weight) and she never physically bounced back. She grew back her feathers and regained her energy but she has remained very thin. Her belly is very squishy, but not big enough to cause her any mobility issues. Until the last few days, she was the pluckiest out of the gang; now she is lethargic. I kept her indoors without food today since her crop felt abnormal yesterday afternoon. It emptied 80% overnight and no odor at all, so sour crop unlikely. She poops mostly water, so maybe her crop was just a reflection of her high water consumption.
My best guess is water belly, but I've gathered that it is chronic and there isn't much to do about it. Is that true? I don't want to try and drain her, if it just keeps filling and she continues to waste. Is this a euthanasia situation? Open to any ideas and questions to figure this out.
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
From today
From last night
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