Water Blister on hen's side

[Rabadamann]

Hello, I have a Cornish x hen with what appears to be a water blister on her side above her leg. She has had this for about 3 weeks and I would like to know about any possible treatment options. I have separated her; she is still very active and isn't showing any other signs of illness. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC. Can you post a picture of it?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hello, I have a Cornish x hen with what appears to be a water blister on her side above her leg. She has had this for about 3 weeks and I would like to know about any possible treatment options. I have separated her; she is still very active and isn't showing any other signs of illness. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hello and welcome to BYC!

What is her age?

Water blisters on the legs and in other areas is exactly how my aunts heart disease (and kidney failure) progressed.. Some humans get dyalisis to slow the progression. This possibility really only came to me because of her breed.

Separation is lonely.. and reintegration can be brutal.

What is your feed routine, including treats and supplements? Questions to see if there is anything that *may* be suggested as helpful to managing conditions.

Does she roost? Does her abdomen feel squishy? How does the skin look below the vent? How bright is her comb?

I'm trying to think of any way a chicken could get a blister.. I've not seen it YET.. but do discover new things daily.. Hoping with pics you may get better answers than mine!

ETA: I have seen breast blisters caused by roosting etc.

 

[Rabadamann]

Welcome to BYC. Can you post a picture of it?

Here is a picture of the blister and one of her in a tank.

Hello and welcome to BYC!

What is her age?

Water blisters on the legs and in other areas is exactly how my aunts heart disease (and kidney failure) progressed.. Some humans get dyalisis to slow the progression. This possibility really only came to me because of her breed.

Separation is lonely.. and reintegration can be brutal.

What is your feed routine, including treats and supplements? Questions to see if there is anything that *may* be suggested as helpful to managing conditions.

Does she roost? Does her abdomen feel squishy? How does the skin look below the vent? How bright is her comb?

I'm trying to think of any way a chicken could get a blister.. I've not seen it YET.. but do discover new things daily.. Hoping with pics you may get better answers than mine!

She is about 6 weeks.

 

[Rabadamann]

Welcome to BYC. Can you post a picture of it?

Here is a picture.

Here is a picture of the hen:

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Here is a picture of the blister and one of her in a tank.

She is about 6 weeks.

Okay.. 6 weeks old is a chick not a hen.. and *can* make for a much different picture!

For informational purposes only and for future readers.. While my family still uses the term roo and hen in casual conversation, when discussing health or behavioral issues age truly matters.. There are chicks, pullets and cockerels until 1 year old, and hens and roosters after 1 year of age. I'm not truly sure when it changes from chick to pullet or cockerel.. but essentially figure it to be WHEN gender can be assessed. I'm always still learning!

I feel *almost* silly for asking.. but are you planning to raise and keep or harvest this bird? This is relevant to follow up suggestions and the reason why I ask, not sheer nosieness.

I know I already mentioned I'd personally not have the bird separated unless it's getting picked on or in danger. They're not meant to be alone and won't thrive too long in that manner.

It *almost* looks like an injury.. But from what I can see in the pics the blue looks more like blood vessels under the skin than bruising which is often less uniform in shape & turns yellow and green on the way back to normal. It also doesn't look actively infected.. angry and red or look like it should be hot to the touch.

Were the chicks vaccinated against anything? Sometimes vaccine sites may get a hematoma.. but I *think* that would look much more like bruising and probably not cover as large of an area and I'm just brain storming ideas.

I edited my last post to mention breast blisters which is much more obviously easier to answer the possible causes.

Admittedly partly due to MY personal life experience which *may* not be relevant here but also partly due to breed.. Ascites would still very much be on my radar of awareness, commonly called water belly as that's often how symptoms develop in older birds.. referred to as heart disease in the last post.

I do wonder if @casportpony has any different feedback than mine, now that more information and pics have been posted? TIA!

 

[Rabadamann]

Okay.. 6 weeks old is a chick not a hen.. and *can* make for a much different picture!

For informational purposes only and for future readers.. While my family still uses the term roo and hen in casual conversation, when discussing health or behavioral issues age truly matters.. There are chicks, pullets and cockerels until 1 year old, and hens and roosters after 1 year of age. I'm not truly sure when it changes from chick to pullet or cockerel.. but essentially figure it to be WHEN gender can be assessed. I'm always still learning!

I feel *almost* silly for asking.. but are you planning to raise and keep or harvest this bird? This is relevant to follow up suggestions and the reason why I ask, not sheer nosieness.

I know I already mentioned I'd personally not have the bird separated unless it's getting picked on or in danger. They're not meant to be alone and won't thrive too long in that manner.

It *almost* looks like an injury.. But from what I can see in the pics the blue looks more like blood vessels under the skin than bruising which is often less uniform in shape & turns yellow and green on the way back to normal. It also doesn't look actively infected.. angry and red or look like it should be hot to the touch.

Were the chicks vaccinated against anything? Sometimes vaccine sites may get a hematoma.. but I *think* that would look much more like bruising and probably not cover as large of an area and I'm just brain storming ideas.

I edited my last post to mention breast blisters which is much more obviously easier to answer the possible causes.

Admittedly partly due to MY personal life experience which *may* not be relevant here but also partly due to breed.. Ascites would still very much be on my radar of awareness, commonly called water belly as that's often how symptoms develop in older birds.. referred to as heart disease in the last post.

I do wonder if @casportpony has any different feedback than mine, now that more information and pics have been posted? TIA!

I would like to harvest her in about 6 weeks.
I did not have the chicks vaccinated from the hatchery. I am sure, it isn't an injury. It does not appear to be infected, and it appears to be filled with a watery fluid and not puss. I had my daughter hold the hen, so I could get a better picture.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I would like to harvest her in about 6 weeks.
I did not have the chicks vaccinated from the hatchery. I am sure, it isn't an injury. It does not appear to be infected, and it appears to be filled with a watery fluid and not puss. I had my daughter hold the hen, so I could get a better picture.

Still sounds *possibly* essentially like what would be called edema (symptom).. caused by or called ascites in poultry (heart failure which can be progressive as opposed to sudden death). Sorry for repeating myself and seeming one tracked.

If the body was able it would naturally reabsorb those fluids over time.

My best suggestions.. are harvest now, let it be until harvest, or consider draining with a sterile needle and apply triple antibiotic or other antiseptic to the puncture site.

I was hoping you would get more feedback.

Still, best wishes for a successful grow out and harvest experience!