Water Belly Treatment

[ParksPoultry]

Hello,

I was reading some other chats in here about draining waterbelly. I’m comfortable with doing that but my question is what about antibiotics or other medication to prevent further damage?

My Welsummer is about 1.5 years old. She’s a great layer and her comb/wattle are vibrant red, her feathers look clean and slick, but her rear is sagging and reddish/orange. It seems to have happened over night. I saw her pass stool and she still free-ranges. She walks fine despite tree the little waddle she has now. I’ll try to get more pictures of her as I can get close. She’s not slow and she’s not straining like egg-bound chickens do.

Anything to help prevent this?

Thank you.

 

[ParksPoultry]

Water Belly or Eggbound?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She’s a great layer and her comb/wattle are vibrant red, her feathers look clean and slick, but her rear is sagging and reddish/orange. It seems to have happened over night. I saw her pass stool and she still free-ranges. She walks fine despite tree the little waddle she has now.

She’s not slow and she’s not straining like egg-bound chickens do.

Doesn't sound like she needs draining at all at this time.

Attempting to drain fluid should really only be done as a supportive care and comfort measure when a hen is clearly in a state of decline and feeling unwell.

Your hen is active and laying eggs, free ranges, etc.

 

[ParksPoultry]

Doesn't sound like she needs draining at all at this time.

Attempting to drain fluid should really only be done as a supportive care and comfort measure when a hen is clearly in a state of decline and feeling unwell.

Your hen is active and laying eggs, free ranges, etc.

Thank you. I felt her when she was roosting and it doesn’t feel as bad as it looks. I imagine it just doesn’t feel good.

 

[Eggcessive]

Since water belly/ascites is a symptom of several possibilities, those conditions that cause it are not curable by draining. Egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, fatty liver disease, and heart failure are the most common causes. Draining increases the chances of introducing infection or causing shock or death. I had had many hens with ascites, and some lived a couple of years. The only time I drained, was when my 11 year old pet hen had labored breathing. It relived her breathing, but she still had more fluid collecting inside the abdomen. She died anyway after about 2 1/2 weeks, and she had fluid filled cysts inside her abdomen for a reproductive issue. The only other reason to drain is to confirm the presence of the yellow ascites fluid or to make one more comfortable. Does your hen have yellow urates innher droppings?