Water belly

[Feather Locklear]

Hello, several of my 2.5 year old Rhode Islands and 1.5 year old Cinnamon Queens have come down with water belly. I have been treating by draining, giving Nutri-Drench, and have started mixing Kickin Chicken supplement in their feed. They do not like the Kickin Chicken but hopefully will get over their pickiness. I bed their house with shavings and straw. I clean it out every three or four days. Any suggestions on what would cause several hens to develop this condition while others are fine. Could this be a genetic issue? I bought them all as chicks from a well known hatchery. Thank you

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What do you feed?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hello, several of my 2.5 year old Rhode Islands and 1.5 year old Cinnamon Queens have come down with water belly. I have been treating by draining, giving Nutri-Drench, and have started mixing Kickin Chicken supplement in their feed. They do not like the Kickin Chicken but hopefully will get over their pickiness. I bed their house with shavings and straw. I clean it out every three or four days. Any suggestions on what would cause several hens to develop this condition while others are fine. Could this be a genetic issue? I bought them all as chicks from a well known hatchery. Thank you

The vitamins, & fatty acids aren't gonna help much with this.
Water belly is chronic, & it's usually just better to put the bird(s) down when they get it. Even those birds who get it managed end up being put down in the end, cuz there's no cure.

Water belly can be due to Heart issues, liver problems, & reproductive diseases.

 

[Mountain Roost]

What is the protein percentage of your feed? Too much protein over a long period can cause water belly (also known as Ascites).

 

[MysteryChicken]

What is the protein percentage of your feed? Too much protein over a long period can cause water belly (also known as Ascites).

I feed high protein feed, never once did I have water belly caused by it. Only water belly cases I've had were due to reproductive issues, or Congestive Heart Failure in a few birds.