Ascites in a 7 month pullet

[Lumley Farm]

I am 99% sure my 7 month pullet has ascites. Many forum posts and articles from BYC has helped me. Can't believe in such a young hen! I thought it was the heat, she lays on the roosting posts or the ground. As of 2 months ago, she has free ranged with the others and I didn't think anything was wrong. Noticed her waddle to catch up with the others however. Today they ventured further than normal and after she got back to the run/coop, she kinda fell to one side. Picked her up and felt the squishy ballon feeling under her abdomen and she was gasping. She was loaded and her croup empty and keel bone pretty prominent, (saw her eating pellets and always eats boiled egg from my hand.) should I try to get her drained, or is it a short future for her? thanks in advance. Btw, I have her separated in a dog airline crate in the a/c, gave her some Nutri Drench and egg and mini noodles.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What do you normally feed, including treats?

If she clearly has fluid in the abdomen and you feel that draining it may give her some comfort and relief, it's worth a try. Draining won't cure whatever condition is causing the fluid to accumulate, but she may be comfortable for a period of time.

In one that young, the fluid may be due to liver or heart issues instead of reproductive problems, but it's hard to know unless you lose her and have a necropsy through your state lab or do your own.

 

[Lumley Farm]

What do you normally feed, including treats?

If she clearly has fluid in the abdomen and you feel that draining it may give her some comfort and relief, it's worth a try. Draining won't cure whatever condition is causing the fluid to accumulate, but she may be comfortable for a period of time.

In one that young, the fluid may be due to liver or heart issues instead of reproductive problems, but it's hard to know unless you lose her and have a necropsy through your state lab or do your own.

I did the fluid extraction and it amounted to about 75mm measurable. She closed her eyes in relief! This first time, she immediately went for food, as she had room for it. I will do it again in two days if necessary. As I stated, she is in an airline transport crate, and there were worms on the paper towel I laid. They were about three inches longs, and I will deworm her immediately for the parasites. Am I correct to guess that they are the reason for the ascites?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I did the fluid extraction and it amounted to about 75mm measurable. She closed her eyes in relief! This first time, she immediately went for food, as she had room for it. I will do it again in two days if necessary. As I stated, she is in an airline transport crate, and there were worms on the paper towel I laid. They were about three inches longs, and I will deworm her immediately for the parasites. Am I correct to guess that they are the reason for the ascites?

This is the 1st mention of worms in this thread.

Generally, the symptom of fluid in the abdomen (Ascites) is due organ failure and/or reproductive disorders. I suppose infection from worms could affect the system enough to cause symptoms...(?)

What did you deworm with - Fenbendazole or Albendazole?

It's good that draining the fluid did make her feel better, hopefully she'll be o.k. for a good while and won't have to be drained very often.

I am 99% sure my 7 month pullet has ascites. Many forum posts and articles from BYC has helped me. Can't believe in such a young hen! I thought it was the heat, she lays on the roosting posts or the ground. As of 2 months ago, she has free ranged with the others and I didn't think anything was wrong. Noticed her waddle to catch up with the others however. Today they ventured further than normal and after she got back to the run/coop, she kinda fell to one side. Picked her up and felt the squishy ballon feeling under her abdomen and she was gasping. She was loaded and her croup empty and keel bone pretty prominent, (saw her eating pellets and always eats boiled egg from my hand.) should I try to get her drained, or is it a short future for her? thanks in advance. Btw, I have her separated in a dog airline crate in the a/c, gave her some Nutri Drench and egg and mini noodles.

 

[Lumley Farm]

Thanks

This is the 1st mention of worms in this thread.

Generally, the symptom of fluid in the abdomen (Ascites) is due organ failure and/or reproductive disorders. I suppose infection from worms could affect the system enough to cause symptoms...(?)

What did you deworm with - Fenbendazole or Albendazole?

It's good that draining the fluid did make her feel better, hopefully she'll be o.k. for a good while and won't have to be drained very often.

Wyorp Rock, I only saw the worms after I had separated her from the flock. They appear only one at a time, to date only have seen three. I am using paper towels so I can monitor her feces. Mostly they are well formed with urates, but then the loose brown smelly stuff. I used Fenbendazole. I checked her this am (3 days later after first aspiration) and she is filling up again. I am just going to aspirate as needed and return her to the flock so she can live as a chicken for whatever time she has. BTW, she is grooming herself and eats the layer pellets, I give her boiled or microwaved whole eggs(1/4 teaspoon), some oats (teaspoon), and the favorite weed greens they all like while foraging. Let her walk on the floor of the building she is housed in. Alert and oriented, Feathers look perfect, no sticky butt etc.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks

Wyorp Rock, I only saw the worms after I had separated her from the flock. They appear only one at a time, to date only have seen three. I am using paper towels so I can monitor her feces. Mostly they are well formed with urates, but then the loose brown smelly stuff. I used Fenbendazole. I checked her this am (3 days later after first aspiration) and she is filling up again. I am just going to aspirate as needed and return her to the flock so she can live as a chicken for whatever time she has. BTW, she is grooming herself and eats the layer pellets, I give her boiled or microwaved whole eggs(1/4 teaspoon), some oats (teaspoon), and the favorite weed greens they all like while foraging. Let her walk on the floor of the building she is housed in. Alert and oriented, Feathers look perfect, no sticky butt etc.

Sounds good.
Fenbendazole is a good dewormer and she will be happy with her flock for however long she has. Often a hen can go for a long time with problems, a lot depends on the cause.

 

[Lumley Farm]

Sounds good.
Fenbendazole is a good dewormer and she will be happy with her flock for however long she has. Often a hen can go for a long time with problems, a lot depends on the cause.

Hello there! I have an update: since deworming and back with flock (a little awkward reintroduction but interesting to me, stares and such!) she has done well. I keep feeling for water belly, but she is fine so far, emptying crop etc. I will continue to check of course, repeat aspiration if necessary and won't hold my breath for egg laying. thanks for the input and good advice! She is the grey in the pic, comb and face a little pale, no idea what breed. Hatched from an egg given to me. Yes, that Polish is a roo. have to keep, he's so dependent on the girls, I would feel sorry for him! Haha!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello there! I have an update: since deworming and back with flock (a little awkward reintroduction but interesting to me, stares and such!) she has done well. I keep feeling for water belly, but she is fine so far, emptying crop etc. I will continue to check of course, repeat aspiration if necessary and won't hold my breath for egg laying. thanks for the input and good advice! She is the grey in the pic, comb and face a little pale, no idea what breed. Hatched from an egg given to me. Yes, that Polish is a roo. have to keep, he's so dependent on the girls, I would feel sorry for him! Haha!

She's lovely.

LOL Well, you need a rooster, he'll be happy to be with the ladies.

I'm glad she's doing o.k.!

Since the fluid is not coming back quickly, then you may want to look into giving her a Detox. Coach723 has used detox for her birds that have had fluid. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not, but worth looking into. Here's a link where she explains it, but search detox with her username, I'm sure you'll find other posts that she's made concerning the subject. It's something I would try if I ever have another hen with fluid.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...le-to-move-now-laid-egg.1446105/post-24045478

 

[Lumley Farm]

She's lovely.

LOL Well, you need a rooster, he'll be happy to be with the ladies.

I'm glad she's doing o.k.!

Since the fluid is not coming back quickly, then you may want to look into giving her a Detox. Coach723 has used detox for her birds that have had fluid. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not, but worth looking into. Here's a link where she explains it, but search detox with her username, I'm sure you'll find other posts that she's made concerning the subject. It's something I would try if I ever have another hen with fluid.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...le-to-move-now-laid-egg.1446105/post-24045478

thanks again!!!!