water belly/ascites

[Anonymous]

One of my 5 week old chicks was diagnosed with this ( the vet post mortemmed her). I've heard its a sympton, not a disease, does anyone have any comments? I'm not sure how to prevent other chicks/hens getting it..apparently its common in the chicken industry when chicks grow too fast, they outgrow their hearts and their circulation and regualtion of fluids breaks down, filling their body cavitiy with fluid....sounds vile.

Any comments from anyone who knows why a domestic chick has developed this condition welcome.

 

[Tim]

What breed was she? What were you feeding them?

I've never heard of it before in domestic pure breeds, only in Ross Cobbs that are slaughter weight in 30 or so days!

 

[foxy]

5 week old chick??? I am thinking an immune response to infection then? Again what breeds do you keep?

 

[Anonymous]

She was a lemon mille fleur sablepoot, one of 6 eggs bought on ebay and brooded by a modern game bantam. Her siblings are fine so far (11 weeks old now). She was fed on chick crumbs and fruit/veg, as were her brothers and sisters. Apparently low brooding temps can cause this too, don't know why.....one egg hatched a day later than the others, and one chick was always slower, I did wonder if this was her?....