Distended abdomen, not egg bound, please help

[Wyorp Rock]

Yeah, im not a fan of that at all. It mostly seems to happen then, but I've noticed it at random times too.

That's what I'm worried about. She's been fine right up to this week, and now that she's at onset of laying suddenly she's in trouble. I like her a lot, but if she's already having reproductive issues I don't see her having much of a future

Husband and I talked about it tonight. As long as she doesn't deteriorate we'll keep an eye on her for now. If she doesn't make a significant improvement before we process turkeys for Thanksgiving we'll probably cull her at that time.

Tonight her crop was reasonably full. It felt about the same as the other chickens. And we got another of the green speckled eggs that we suspect are hers.

Husband seems to think the speckles are blood embedded in the shell. I think they look like normal pigment.

Do you have photos of the eggs?
Are the speckles blue or brown?

I agree with you, I'd see how she does, if she improves that's great. If she's still declining by the end of November, then it may be time to call it.

Her being hunched up, I'd re-check that crop and I'd still get extra calcium into her for 5 days in a row.

 

[AinaWGSD]

One of these has to be hers (unless my wyandotte is somehow laying green eggs, I know the RIR is laying brown and the sixth pullet isn't laying yet based on pelvic spacing). The top two eggs we've been seeing since before her symptoms started and during the worst of them. Her condition has been pretty stable since seeing the bottom egg.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 3978818
One of these has to be hers (unless my wyandotte is somehow laying green eggs, I know the RIR is laying brown and the sixth pullet isn't laying yet based on pelvic spacing). The top two eggs we've been seeing since before her symptoms started and during the worst of them. Her condition has been pretty stable since seeing the bottom egg.

That's interesting.
I'm not a genetics person, but you think she's the one laying a green egg instead of blue right?

I may be butchering this. @MysteryChicken and @nuthatched help me out here.

Since the egg is green, it was first white (most all eggs are white to begin with, except for a few breeds/exceptions that lay blue through and through), then dye/pigment is applied blue with brown overlay to make green. So the brown splotches would very likely just uneven/extra pigment not blood.

Splotches, spots, etc., can be due to uneven application in the shell gland. Since she's been under the weather, this can cause all kinds of glitches. I'd see if it continues for curiosity's sake. Even if it does, then I don't know of a way to correct it.

I like the eggs! I've never had colored egg layers and a colorful basket, just brown or white for me. I think it's time to think about a different breed...

 

[nuthatched]

I can't think of anything that you haven't already covered. Not sure why her eggs changed hue unless the system has slowed down and the blue is paler or it's getting an extra layer of bloom.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I'm not a genetics person, but you think she's the one laying a green egg instead of blue right?

Yes. I was pretty sure, but after catching our sapphire jewel in the nest box and pulling out a still warm blue egg I'm positive the blue egg was not laid by my legbar.

Not sure why her eggs changed hue

They haven't changed, that I'm aware of. The three eggs pictured were laid the same day, by three different pullets.

 

[MysteryChicken]

That's interesting.
I'm not a genetics person, but you think she's the one laying a green egg instead of blue right?

I may be butchering this. @MysteryChicken and @nuthatched help me out here.

Since the egg is green, it was first white (most all eggs are white to begin with, except for a few breeds/exceptions that lay blue through and through), then dye/pigment is applied blue with brown overlay to make green. So the brown splotches would very likely just uneven/extra pigment not blood.

Splotches, spots, etc., can be due to uneven application in the shell gland. Since she's been under the weather, this can cause all kinds of glitches. I'd see if it continues for curiosity's sake. Even if it does, then I don't know of a way to correct it.

I like the eggs! I've never had colored egg layers and a colorful basket, just brown or white for me. I think it's time to think about a different breed...

Chickens that lay Green, or Olive may not be consistent with color all the time. I had an Olive Egger Hen that laid Olive, Turquoise, & Blue with Green Speckles.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Did a fluid check this morning, she definitely has ascites But at least now we know. She had been looking so much better, but yesterday she was dumpy again. We'll be euthanizing her and I'll do a quick necropsy. I'll update with pictures when we do.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Did a fluid check this morning, she definitely has ascites But at least now we know. She had been looking so much better, but yesterday she was dumpy again. We'll be euthanizing her and I'll do a quick necropsy. I'll update with pictures when we do.

 

[AinaWGSD]

So, I was all set to euthanize my pullet today. But when I got everything all set up and she came to me and seems completely normal. Her abdomen is no longer swollen and her crop was decently full for the time of morning. When I picked her up she didn't have any of the gurgling she's done the last two times we handled her.

I couldn't do it with her acting and looking completely normal today. I know whatever is going on with her is likely to recur, but for now I'm just gonna keep an eye on her and let her go for as long as she's feeling well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So, I was all set to euthanize my pullet today. But when I got everything all set up and she came to me and seems completely normal. Her abdomen is no longer swollen and her crop was decently full for the time of morning. When I picked her up she didn't have any of the gurgling she's done the last two times we handled her.

I couldn't do it with her acting and looking completely normal today. I know whatever is going on with her is likely to recur, but for now I'm just gonna keep an eye on her and let her go for as long as she's feeling well.

They can surprise you.

She may have episodes in the future and still come out of them. I've had hens that were clearly having problems and would wax/wane for months, more very good days than bad. I'd let them keep on keepin' on until they declined quickly and didn't bounce back.