Query Ascites?

[Crookadoodle]

I have a 1 year old hen, Fetty, likely mixed barred rock who is presenting with signs that point to ascites.
She is currently laying, seems the largest of my hens, top of the pecking order and preferred by the rooster.
She still acts alert and active, eats plenty, drinks well and recently has be doing some free ranging for a portion of the day in the small grassy patches that are not under snow still. Her mobility is normal, no wheezing unless actively laying an egg, just at the end or when I pick her up.
I noticed this evening when I went to gently push her away from eating an egg (whole other issue) that her abdomen was squishy. I later brought her in for a bit of an assessment and it is quite large and feels very soft and sloshy. Her keel bone can barely be felt as well.
I did a bit of brief research as I have never experienced this before and it sounds like there are many factors to this developing but one is e.coli contamination. The entire flock was just treated in March with antibiotics for e.coli and another bacteria present in a necropsy that was done. Was the presence of these bacterias the cause of her water belly? Are all my hens at risk or going to also develop this? I do not have the proper syringe on me currently so I will have to purchase one asap to try and remove some of the fluid...is there anyway she can rebound? I have lost so many hens this year before the necropsy results pointed out the correct treatment, I was so hoping we would be past this. It's coming up on 1 year since first aquiring my flock and it seems we are hitting all kinds of bumps in the road.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I'm sorry about your hen.
Perhaps @Wyorp Rock or @azygous can help you. (I don't know too much about ascites, unfortunately)

 

[azygous]

Keeping chickens does expose one to the darker side of health issues. It can seem defeating when you're new at this, but remind yourself that we all were newbies to this at one time and confronting these issues and dealing with them confers experience and learning, and eventually, wisdom. So hang in there and don't be hard on yourself for any failures.

Your hen probably has ascites from your description. But it's important to verify it. If the swelling is in the abdominal region in front of and between the legs, it's ascites. If the swelling is mostly behind the legs and just beneath the vent, it's more likely to be a bacterial infection related to the reproductive system. Further verification is possible by aspirating some fluid and seeing if it's mostly clear and a pale yellow or if it's darker brown and smells bad, the latter being bacterial.

Ascites is caused by a failing liver. The liver can fail if it has become fatty, but other things, such as cancer, can also slowly kill a liver. Often, it's only possible to tell why a liver is ailing by necropsy after death. In any event, ascites is pretty easy to identify, and it is a symptom that the liver is failing, and death is probably inevitable at some future point. Draining the fluid only prolongs the life of the chicken by a small degree, and it's not entirely without risk. Infection and shock and premature death from the procedure are possibilities and precautions should be taken to make it as safe as possible. My personal opinion on draining is that it's not always worth the risk for trying to extend the life of the chicken for a few weeks or months.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Fetty, likely mixed barred rock who is presenting with signs that point to ascites.
She is currently laying, seems the largest of my hens, top of the pecking order and preferred by the rooster.
She still acts alert and active, eats plenty, drinks well and recently has be doing some free ranging for a portion of the day in the small grassy patches that are not under snow still. Her mobility is normal, no wheezing unless actively laying an egg, just at the end or when I pick her up.

Fluid in the abdomen (Ascites) is a symptom. Some common causes of Ascites in laying hens are organ failure/dysfunction and reproductive disorders.

She's eating/drinking/active/laying eggs...
You notice "wheezing" (difficulty or labored breathing) only when she lays an egg or if you pick her up. Are you sitting and watching her lay an egg? Distress?
When you pick up a hen that has fluid in the abdomen, support the abdomen with a hand until you can get her to a table so she can stand while you examine. her.

Draining may be warranted if she's having a lot of difficulty (doesn't sound like it right at this time with your report of her being active, laying, eating well, etc.). Draining may help make a hen more comfortable, but it's not going to cure whatever is causing the fluid to begin with. There's also risks when draining, so consider those as well before you make your decision.

 

[Crookadoodle]

Keeping chickens does expose one to the darker side of health issues. It can seem defeating when you're new at this, but remind yourself that we all were newbies to this at one time and confronting these issues and dealing with them confers experience and learning, and eventually, wisdom. So hang in there and don't be hard on yourself for any failures.

Your hen probably has ascites from your description. But it's important to verify it. If the swelling is in the abdominal region in front of and between the legs, it's ascites. If the swelling is mostly behind the legs and just beneath the vent, it's more likely to be a bacterial infection related to the reproductive system. Further verification is possible by aspirating some fluid and seeing if it's mostly clear and a pale yellow or if it's darker brown and smells bad, the latter being bacterial.

Ascites is caused by a failing liver. The liver can fail if it has become fatty, but other things, such as cancer, can also slowly kill a liver. Often, it's only possible to tell why a liver is ailing by necropsy after death. In any event, ascites is pretty easy to identify, and it is a symptom that the liver is failing, and death is probably inevitable at some future point. Draining the fluid only prolongs the life of the chicken by a small degree, and it's not entirely without risk. Infection and shock and premature death from the procedure are possibilities and precautions should be taken to make it as safe as possible. My personal opinion on draining is that it's not always worth the risk for trying to extend the life of the chicken for a few weeks or months.

The swelling seems to be more inbetween the legs and a little both infront and behind the legs in the abdominal area. I did get the supplies but I almost wonder if I should just leave her be? She is still laying and active, she doesnt seem to have trouble getting around or roosting. Chickens are so good at hising discomfort so I cant tell if she is experiencing discomfort really.
I guess it might be best to at least drain a little bit to see if the liquid reveals what the cause is for sure.

 

[Crookadoodle]

Fluid in the abdomen (Ascites) is a symptom. Some common causes of Ascites in laying hens are organ failure/dysfunction and reproductive disorders.

She's eating/drinking/active/laying eggs...
You notice "wheezing" (difficulty or labored breathing) only when she lays an egg or if you pick her up. Are you sitting and watching her lay an egg? Distress?
When you pick up a hen that has fluid in the abdomen, support the abdomen with a hand until you can get her to a table so she can stand while you examine. her.

Draining may be warranted if she's having a lot of difficulty (doesn't sound like it right at this time with your report of her being active, laying, eating well, etc.). Draining may help make a hen more comfortable, but it's not going to cure whatever is causing the fluid to begin with. There's also risks when draining, so consider those as well before you make your decision.

Yes she is acting very much normal and I would never have discovered the swelling if I had relied on her behaviours to indicate she was unwell.

I happened to be in the coop a few times now when she was actively laying, i check for eggs very frequenly as a couple hens have started to eat the eggs (she is one of them) so I have caught a few girls right at the tail end. She obly wheezed or was breathing loudly at the very end, while in a more crunched/upright position and pushing. As soon as the egg was laid the loud breathing subsided.

I am very much unsure if its worth draining now since she seems so well otherwise.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

That's your call since you are able to access her better than we can.