Crop or Water Belly? Fluid Gathering in Front (her right side)

[ChicksandJacque]

Hi everyone, I have a 9 month Midnight Maren hen, who has what feels like a water belly, full and squishy, but the liquid is primarily in her upper belly. She's not wobbling when she walks but she appears very fat, and the enlarged belly is very noticiable, lopsided with most of the liquid gathering on her right side of the front upper belly. She was eating normally a couple of days ago, but does not seem to have much of an appetite now. She had some pretty severe diarrhea about a month ago, which has improved. She's still able to perch at night and enjoys walking around the yard with the other hens, so not terribly lethargic. Does this sound like water belly to you? I was going to try draining her, but most of the videos I've seen are showing fluid collecting in the lower belly rather than in the front. Not sure how to proceed? Oh and I've not seen an egg from her for a couple of days. It is December though so my hens have all slowed down.

 

[LaFleche]

What you describe seems to be a crop issue.
This link will help you with the necessary treatment:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[ChicksandJacque]

Ah yes, thank you. I kept imagining the crop much higher, but I see now, this is what we're dealing with. I found some great Chicken Anatomy info on The-Chicken-Chick.com site, for anyone else who might be wondering. Treatment looks tricky!

 

[Eggcessive]

The crop is full in the evening, but it should flatten and be empty first thing in the morning. Describe how it feels tomorrow morning or before she eats or drinks. Pictures may also help. What are you feeding her? Does she have grit to help her gizzard work?

 

[ChicksandJacque]

I supplied extra grit when they were younger, but I've slacked off. I'll definitely get this going regularly again. They eat a good organic fresh feed and the usual scraps and greens. I don't think its the diet, but I am planning on separating her and mixing some apple cider in her water as well, before I try anything more invasive like helping her to vomit. After reading up, I'm quite sure this is a crop issue, as was suggested. She has all the symptoms of sour crop, not yet impacted, and the images I've seen on line are exactly what I'm seeing with my girl. Thanks everyone for your help. I'll provide an update.

 

[ChicksandJacque]

I've been keeping my girl inside for the last three nights, massaging and giving her soft foods during the day. She seems to be eating and pooping, but the huge crop hasn't reduced much, then yesterday, I noticed that she has an extended abdomen, beneath the vent. I can cup my hand around it, so could she have both sour crop and be egg bound?

I did give her a warm bath and gently massaged, but this did not seem to help.

We had a warmer day today so I let her hang with the flock. At dusk she scurried into the coop with the rest of the flock and jumped on the perch. I'm letting her sleep in the coop tonight. I am noticing that her comb is droopy, though. If she is egg bound, it's been this way for a couple of days or more. : (

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have any pictures of her? An enlarged lower belly under the vent can be fluid, fat, or signs of salpingitis/egg yolk peritonitis. Is there any swelling at her vent? A crop usually becomes impacted first, firm or doughy that won’t clear by morning, and then may become sour, squishy/puffy with liquid. There also is a pendulous crop which is very enlarged and stretched out from overeating, and not regaining its muscle tone. What do her droppings look like?

 

[ChicksandJacque]

Hi Eggcessive, Thanks for response. I'll get pictures tomorrow. Her droppings are green and white, roundish, not diarrhea. And Yes, her crop is very enlarged and stretched. I'd consider it droopy. It is squishy/puffy with liquid, not firm. She seems to like me to massage it. I don't feel any firmness. Her enlarged lower belly, between her legs doesn't feel like fluid. It is much firmer. I can imagine an egg. She is sensitive to me massaging this area. I haven't noticed any swelling at her vent.

 

[Eggcessive]

A human calcium citrate with vitamin D tablet or a Tums can be given orally if you think that she is egg bound. That can help pass an egg. The article about crops back in post 2 is very good about what to do for crop problems. Try to make sure that she is eating a little each day and plenty of fluids.

 

[ChicksandJacque]

Do you have any pictures of her? An enlarged lower belly under the vent can be fluid, fat, or signs of salpingitis/egg yolk peritonitis. Is there any swelling at her vent? A crop usually becomes impacted first, firm or doughy that won’t clear by morning, and then may become sour, squishy/puffy with liquid. There also is a pendulous crop which is very enlarged and stretched out from overeating, and not regaining its muscle tone. What do her droppings look like?