Water belly/ascites

[jessmorris]

Hello all,
one of my chicks was PMd with this and I've read since that its a symptom not a disease. Any ideas anyone? I've googled it and its common in factory farmed hens which grow very quickly. I think they outgrow their hearts (and other organs??) which then can't regulate the circulation and/or absorbtion of fluids?? The body cavity ends up full of yellow jelly-like tissue full of fluid.
Sounds vile, but how could this happen in chicks raised slowly in a domestic situation? I've also read that it can be low brooding temperatures..??

I wouldn't like it to happen again.

Any comments?

[jelleybaby]

I got told one of mine died from this too.!!! very swollen and squidgy tummy. died very suddenly with no symptons. she was very hot thou. the other theory was peritonitus

[RichmondHens]

I've never had a bird with this problem, but what I have gleaned from reading up on it is that ascites is caused by heart disease. It is most common in broiler (meat) birds because of their rapid growth. It is rare in other slower growing breeds but heart damage can be caused by a variety of things including a diet high in salt, particularly for chicks.

Heart problems can be inherited. Any bird showing an intermittent purple/blue comb most likely has cardiac problems of some sort and should not be bred from.

[Suechooks]

Ascites is fluid where it shouldn't be. If the heart is failing then you get swollen ankles etc (in people that is!) as the circulation isn't pumping right rround the body. It also occurs from tumours and egg peritonitis in chooks.
If you have a vet who is poultry-friendly they can in fact draw off the fluid if it hasn't become "organised" ie started to solidify. My vet offered to do this on one of my ex-batts but we decided that the cause was more likely to be terminal in her.
It all depends on why the bird has got the ascites as to how it can be treated. I'm sure there are lots more reasons why they get this but it's as usual a case of how much your vet knows about poultry, how far you are prepared/able to go, how much the bird is suffering, what is the diagnosis and prognosis.

[jessmorris]

Thank you everyone, still not sure why she got it as she was only on chick crumbs and veg bits, same as her sibs and she didn't have a blue comb. I don't have a poultry vet, or I would have taken her. The vet that post mortemmed her specialises in poultry, pigeons and game birds - if he was nearer (Thirsk to Lancaster) I would have taken her.....boo.