sick ckicken

[wilko]

Hi Everyone, Been a while since I last posted but we have a problem with one of our ex batts. She has 'outsize hocks'which seem to be getting wider and she walks like a duck. She seems lethargic and is keeping herself to herself. She is eating normally and when I throw some treats for them she helps herself to them as eagerly as the other hens do. We have tried looking on the'net but can't seem to find anything that resembles the symptoms.I have took some pictures of her in the hope that someone on here can shed some light on her condition.




Thanks in advance, Wilko

[Mad Chick]

Hmmm... she does look rather wide.

Is she laying? Can you have a gentle feel of her to see if you can feel any egg shaped lumps and bumps which could indicate that she's egg bound? Is so, a warm belly bath may help.

The other thing that concerns me is that you say she is waddling like a duck. This got me thinking of egg yolk peritonitis but they normally stand more upright (a bit like a penguin)

Hopefully someone with a bit more of an idea will be along soon

[Chi Chi]

I dont know what it could be but def give her a bath. Hope shes better soon

[Steve the Gas]

Sounds more like 'water belly' or Ascites, is her belly like a hard balloon?

[Willow]

She looks very swollen, I've never come across this before so cant give any advice at all except that if I was in your position I'd take her to a good vet..

[little brown hen]

My chicken Spice looks very like your girl. She had a lot of fluid at her back end, from the end of her chest bone to the vent, and she walked as though she'd been on a horse, straddle legged. She had Baytril and the swelling went down.

[Funky chicken]

Is her belly taut and swollen? One of my ex-bats looked like that and she had acites (water belly) as Steve said, she had a mass in her stomach, she was really miserable, not eating and just standing with her head crunched into her shoulders. I hope it isn't the same but i think she needs to see a vet for a diagnosis anyway.

[wilko]

Hi Everyone, Thanks for the helpful replies. I have just got home from work and been to check on the girls and I picked up the sick one and her 'underside' is like a swollen balloon, so I will make an appointment with the vet and take her in.Once again thanks for the help.

Wilko

[Steve the Gas]

Lets hope the vet knows.... if not, you tell 'em

[wilko]

Hi Everyone, Just got back from vets with the sad news that we have had to have the sick chicken put to sleep as there was nothing the vet could do. He said it could have been a tumour or heart failure (her comb was turning blue). Will find a nice part of the garden to bury her.

Wilko

[Mad Chick]

So sorry

[wendy]

Aww what a shame. There is usually an underlining problem that causes ascities.
You gave her freedom and I am sure she was forever grateful

[p.penn]

Sorry to hear that

[fishpond]

How sad.
But she enjoyed her new life.

[Spreckly]

Poor girl, at least she is not suffering any more.