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...Well, Bantam actually.

I think it may be a peritonitis (sp?) as she has a huge swollen abdomen which is very pink, and waddles around like John Wayne

She has been like this for at least three weeks - and has been eating and drinking and running around without any problems and has a very deep red comb.

I have done some research - I gather there are two types of peritonitis - septic and non septic. Given that she is eating and seemingly happy (although has laboured breathing) I don't think it is septic - and gather that not even very strong antibiotics can treat this anyway, so don't want to stress her with a trip to the vet if it won't help.

So I just wondered what you would do? I have read about how to drain it with a catheter and though I don't relish the thought, I would give it a try if people think it would help? Although again, I have read that usually they are likely to fill up in a matter of days anyway? If she can live with this without major pain and discomfort, I think this is preferable to me performing (and possibly botching) a draining procedure.

Just wondered if anybody had any experience or thoughts on this. Incidentally, we lost another hen to what I now realise was probably a septic peritonitis last week. I didn't think it was an infectious condition, but if anybody knows otherwise, I would be grateful to hear. Have isolated sick bantams drinking water just in case.

Thanks all in advance...

Bonnie

3 weeks is a long time to let something suffer.

I'd have necked it ages ago...

SusieGee wrote:The bantam doesn't seem to be suffering if you read the above again, Bonnie says she is quite happy and it's always a difficult to 'neck' a bird if her quality of life is still good - they become more than egg producers. Sorry Bonnie, I haven't come across this with my girls but I'm sure someone will be along soon who has some good advice. Good luck

Susie

The waddling around and laboured breathing would have been enough for me.

If you don't want to kill it, why not take it to a vet?

Thanks Susie,

I certainly wouldn't let any animal suffer for three weeks, but it is a good job I didn't 'neck it' as took her to the vet at the weekend, who pointed out that non-septic peritonitis (still don't know if that is the right spelling!) is not painful and she has known many hens live with it quite happily for years. We did ask her to drain it but she thought that this may cause the bantam's body to go into shock, and lead to it turning septic, plus it would cause more stress to the bantam than it was worth.

In her view she will be fine, but might have a lesser life expectancy than she would otherwise.

Just thought this might be helpful for anyone with the same problem.

hi

I've had a hen with this in the past, it's a difficult one to deal with. The hen in herself seems to be fine, she will eat and drink as normal, but she will seem to swell up. To be quite honest I let the hen live with it so long as she seemed happy and was eating and drinking normally, but once it got beyond that I felt I needed to do something.

If she swells to the point that she is struggling , then I would suggest that you consider ending it for her. I know that this is an unpleasant thing to suggest and do, and I would only suggest that you do it if the swelling gets to the point that she can't feed and would then starve to death if you did nothing.

You could keep draining her, but at the end of the day you need to weigh up how much she is suffering.

If it does get worse, you are welcome to bring her down to us and leave her here for me to deal with. It's never nice to kill an animal especially if the are a pet. On the chicken courses we run I always suggest that people team up with someone else and swap hens for the nasty jobs.

best of luck

Gert

Oh thanks Gert, that is really sweet of you to offer.

To be honest, we are in the process of hatching chicks for meat hens, so if it looks like she is suffering, my boyf would probably do it, as he needs the practice!

But as you say, while she is still living a seemingly normal life, I will let her get on with it. She doesn't seem to be getting any bigger, so will see how it goes.

It is a shame. They are not the most robust of creatures are they!?

Thanks again.

That's a chook condition I've never heard of, bet one of mine will get it before too long..... I'm getting quite clued up on chook/duck problems from first hand experience.

Glad you posted this Bonnie and hope your hen will be OK.