Water belly or just fat?

[MountainMomma359]

First off, I am a worry wart, I hope I am blowing this out of proportion in my mind. I have a roughly 7 month old breeder quality (or just not hatchery) barred rock. She is a big girl compared to our hatchery buff orpingtons. I have to trim and clean her booty sometimes cause it gets dirty easy with the thick feathers. Today I had to clean her a bit and though her bottom just under her vent feels plump. No baldness or redness. She acts fine. Since she matured she has been heavier, I assume because she has better breeding? What are the odds it's water belly so young? Or could it just be fat? I'll try to get a better look at it tomorrow in the daylight.

 

[Tookie]

First off, I am a worry wart, I hope I am blowing this out of proportion in my mind. I have a roughly 7 month old breeder quality (or just not hatchery) barred rock. She is a big girl compared to our hatchery buff orpingtons. I have to trim and clean her booty sometimes cause it gets dirty easy with the thick feathers. Today I had to clean her a bit and though her bottom just under her vent feels plump. No baldness or redness. She acts fine. Since she matured she has been heavier, I assume because she has better breeding? What are the odds it's water belly so young? Or could it just be fat? I'll try to get a better look at it tomorrow in the daylight.

I doubt its water belly.
Has she started laying yet? It looks like she is.

 

[MountainMomma359]

I doubt its water belly.
Has she started laying yet? It looks like she is.

I hope not, and probably not but she's a doll and I worry. She has been laying for a month-ish. She lays probably every 2-3 days. She did lay this morning, in the coop, in poop, because her sisters are slow and were hogging the boxes

 

[Tookie]

I hope not, and probably not but she's a doll and I worry. She has been laying for a month-ish. She lays probably every 2-3 days. She did lay this morning, in the coop, in poop, because her sisters are slow and were hogging the boxes

Then she does not have water belly, aka ascites. If she did she would have stopped laying eggs.
As you mentioned it could just be breeder quality, which is what I think.
When she runs/walks does she waddle like a penguin at all?

 

[MountainMomma359]

Then she does not have water belly, aka ascites. If she did she would have stopped laying eggs.
As you mentioned it could just be breeder quality, which is what I think.
When she runs/walks does she waddle like a penguin at all?

Ok, I hadn't read that they stop laying when they get it, good to know. Yes she has a waddle when she runs, but no different than the other girls.

 

[Tookie]

Ok, I hadn't read that they stop laying when they get it, good to know. Yes she has a waddle when she runs, but no different than the other girls.

I wouldn't be too concerned then.
Keep an eye on her though.
Have you found any weird eggs under the roost or in the nesting boxes? I'm referring to lash eggs.

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that you are feeding mostly layer or all flock feed, and not many treats.

 

[MountainMomma359]

Make sure that you are feeding mostly layer or all flock feed, and not many treats.

Yeah, she is my piggy for sure. My little garbage disposal I try to go easy on treats and keep them healthier.

 

[MountainMomma359]

I wouldn't be too concerned then.
Keep an eye on her though.
Have you found any weird eggs under the roost or in the nesting boxes? I'm referring to lash eggs.

Nope, everyone's eggs have been great thankfully!

 

[Tookie]

Nope, everyone's eggs have been great thankfully!

Awesome!
Don't give her too many treats! Treats should make up no more than 10% of their diet.