•2 min read•from chickens
Potentially wasting away - help needed
Our take
Hey there, chicken lovers! It sounds like you’re in a bit of a cluck-tastrophe with your feathered friend. Dealing with a chicken that hasn’t laid an egg in over a year can be both puzzling and worrisome. It’s concerning that she's gone through a tough molt and hasn’t bounced back physically. The squishiness of her belly and the watery droppings are definitely signs that something isn’t quite right. While water belly can be a chronic issue, we don’t want to jump to conclusions about her future just yet. Let’s band together and explore all possible avenues to help her out. Your concerns are valid, and we’re here for you! Let's dive into this together and see if we can find some egg-citing solutions.
| | Hi everyone, I have a chicken that hasn't laid an egg in over a year. She had a hard molt in the fall of 2024 (full molt, lethargic, lost weight) and she never physically bounced back. She grew back her feathers and regained her energy but she has remained very thin. Her belly is very squishy, but not big enough to cause her any mobility issues. Until the last few days, she was the pluckiest out of the gang; now she is lethargic. I kept her indoors without food today since her crop felt abnormal yesterday afternoon. It emptied 80% overnight and no odor at all, so sour crop unlikely. She poops mostly water, so maybe her crop was just a reflection of her high water consumption. My best guess is water belly, but I've gathered that it is chronic and there isn't much to do about it. Is that true? I don't want to try and drain her, if it just keeps filling and she continues to waste. Is this a euthanasia situation? Open to any ideas and questions to figure this out. I really appreciate any help you can provide. [link] [comments] |
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