Water belly or something else

[baileybiddi]

One of my hens, Winnie, hasn't been acting herself lately. Backstory, she is two years old Sapphire Gem who is an egg-laying machine and has never molted (her feathers look awful). All of my other hens molted in October and stopped laying all winter, except for Winnie. She has never stopped laying eggs!! Anyways, it seems she is molting right now since she has quite a few pin feathers. She seems extra slow and is not acting normal. She seems to be eating, although she seems to be having a hard time pooping lately. Her comb is also bright red. I don't think she is eggbound because I've felt around her vent, given her an Epsom salt bath, and she isn't doing the penguin walk. Last night, she didn't make it on the roost and slept on the floor. Tonight, when I let them out to free range, she slowly foraged around and eventually just laid down until all the other hens went to bed. I'm wondering if this could be water belly? She feels a little heavier and squishier to me, but I'm not sure. Could she just be acting weird because she's molting? Also, what could be causing her to molt right now in the middle of summer? I'm not really sure how to help her, so any advice is appreciated!

 

[GodLovesU]

I have a chicken named Winnie too!I hope someone is able to help you!!

 

[nuthatched]

What's her diet? Is it hot there?

 

[baileybiddi]

What's her diet? Is it hot there?

She eats 18% layer feed and free access to oyster shells. She usually free ranges a couple hours a day. It has been pretty hot in the upper 90s low 100s.

 

[ChickyMudder]

I just went through a situation where I found my chick all puffed up and laying on the ground. I picked her up and she had a huge crop full of water to the point where it was spilling out just because I picked her up. Her bottom was also very large and fluidity. I brought her in and didn’t give her anything to eat or drink for 24 hours.

Treated her for sour crop.
Treated her for egg bound with extra calcium and epsom salt baths.
It’s been two weeks and she is only eating black soldier larvae and water. She refuses everything else.
I did not treat (drain)for water belly. I just reduced and managed her fluid intake.
I treated with Baytril abx.

I’m two weeks into this. No eggs, poops are less watery, she lost weight. I don’t know what else to do. I’m thinking I worm her. …

If it’s water belly from heart or liver failure you will give them water and it goes to their belly and you have to reduce water or drain it.
My chick may have heart failure. It seems to match up. This flocks genetics aren’t stellar.

 

[ChicNmom]

Water belly to me is pretty obvious. No chicken should feel like a water balloon. Not even a little bit.

If the extra weight is more forward it could be a sign of something reproductive. Especially since she has laid non stop. Inflammation could cause her to have a hard time pooping. Or wanting to get on the roost. I would give her some calcium. It will help with muscle contractions and won't hurt her to have it.

Going through her first molt complicates figuring out the problem.

I have had a few hens that were really off during a molt. Not eating, sitting by themselves and cranky.
And I have one that molts in summer instead of fall.

Make sure she gets some extra protein for feather growth.

 

[baileybiddi]

Update: I think she has an impacted crop. I brought her inside for the night to monitor her, and in the morning, I noticed her crop was still very full and hard. I withheld her food all day, gave her some coconut oil, and have been massaging her crop. Her crop is still impacted today but feels less hard and more squishy. She's pretty lethargic and not drinking much. I'm considering giving her docusate sodium but am a little nervous about it. Any advice is appreciated!