Large swelling under vent

[Vasicos1]

One of my hens started having a dirty behind lately so I cleaned her up and treated her for mites, lice and wormed her and the rest of my flock to try and solve the issue thinking usually that will fix it however this did not work. She was still acting very normal apart from having a messy behind until yesterday when she was moving a lot slower than normal. I have given her another bum bath and have found a rather large swelling just under her vent. It is very squishy and doesn’t seem to bother her when I touch it. I also don’t think she is egg bound. I have felt around and can’t seem to feel an egg at all. I don’t know how old she is as I bought her at an action a couple years ago so I know it could be age related but I’m just curious. I have never had this on any of my chickens before. What do you think it is? Her comb nice and red and she is still interested in food but just looks very sleepy and is moving quite slow.

 

[SmiYa0126]

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive please help!

My first instinct is to give her calcium citrate for a few days and an Epsom salt bath.

 

[Eggcessive]

Calcium might help if she is egg bound. It can be hard to know if the swelling is from fluid (water belly,) fat, tumor, or from internal laying/egg yolk peritonitis.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She was still acting very normal apart from having a messy behind until yesterday when she was moving a lot slower than normal.

It is very squishy and doesn’t seem to bother her when I touch it.

Moving slower than normal, I'd give the Extra Calcium to see if that helps. She may be having a hard time expelling an egg.

Having some swelling or low hanging abdomen is not that uncommon in laying hens. If it doesn't bother her when you touch it, then for now I'd just monitor that. Get her through her droopy stage - work on hydration, get the calcium in and see how it goes.

You mention you treated for lice/mites - did she have external parasites?