Water ascites?

[Merylyn]

Chicken has been showing signs of water acites she recently fell down as she cannot handle her weight anymore idk if it is ascites as there are white spots on her vent area and id you pop them white rough substance comes out. When i feel her vent area i can feel a large bumb that is not bone if anyone has any ideas on what it is that would be helpful ( one other chickens had presented with the same symptoms and died).

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

The skin looks infected. But it definitely looks like her abdomen is swollen. You can drain it to provide her some relief:

You will also want to apply a topical for the skin infection

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, it does appear that she may have ascites. The white crusty substance may be kidney waste, known as white urates which have dried out into crystals. The spots may be irritation from the fluid or lying down. You can try to remove some of the fluid from her abdomen with a sterile 18 gauge needle after disinfecting the skin. This is an invasive procedure and not without risk. It is a temporary fix, but the condition is fatal eventually. It comes from heart or liver failure, and is seen with egg yolk peritonitis and cancer. I do necropsies or autopsies on my hen who die, and it can be very common. At some point, you may want to put her down if she is suffering.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a good thread in post 42 with pictures of draining a chicken with a needle:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-5

 

[Merylyn]

Yes, it does appear that she may have ascites. The white crusty substance may be kidney waste, known as white urates which have dried out into crystals. The spots may be irritation from the fluid or lying down. You can try to remove some of the fluid from her abdomen with a sterile 18 gauge needle after disinfecting the skin. This is an invasive procedure and not without risk. It is a temporary fix, but the condition is fatal eventually. It comes from heart or liver failure, and is seen with egg yolk peritonitis and cancer. I do necropsies or autopsies on my hen who die, and it can be very common. At some point, you may want to put her down if she is suffering.

Yes i was thinking of putting her down but i want to let her go with very little pain

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Where do i get the needles?

You can buy them at your local farm goods store. We buy ours at TSC.

 

[Merylyn]

You can buy them at your local farm goods store. We buy ours at TSC.

Ok thanks should i giver her a bath? Or is that stressfull and what causes water ascites? Am i doing something wrong?

 

[Eggcessive]

Baths can be very stressful for a chicken who is ill or stressed. It can push a chicken over the edge if they are sick. Some chickens who are not so ill can enjoy soaking. I would use your own opinion if she is able to soak or not. Sometimes you can just wash off the part that gets soiled.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Ok thanks should i giver her a bath? Or is that stressfull and what causes water ascites? Am i doing something wrong?

Water belly can be caused by a multitude of conditions. It could be as simple as an e coli infection or as severe as renal failure. My guess based on the white stuff is that its a renal issue. Make sure you're adding ACV to the water. You could also add a little cranberry into their diet or a bit of juice in the water. Honestly the older birds get the more health problems they start having. It's not that you are doing anything wrong.