Ascites or internal laying, or???

[Pampered Hen]

I have a 2-year old Wyandotte hen who has been eating poorly and is moving much slower than everybody else. Yesterday when I checked her over I noticed that abdomen was swollen. What am I looking for in determining whether the abdomen is filled with liquids vs. swollen organs?
For further information: I have unsuccessfully been treating her for her bumblefoot. The scab and puss keeps coming back. She molted very late in winter (Jan/Feb) and has been very slow at that. Coinciding with her molt she had stopped laying and I haven’t seen an egg from her since. I’m wondering two things: What are the chances that her foot-infection has spread into her body and/or could she been laying internally?
I'm a bit of the squemish sort and never have poked a needle into an animal. However, I'm willing to give her a try if draining of her abdomen is an option and/or injectable penicillin is recommended.
Any and all advice is very much appreciated!

I forgot to mention: her comb is not dark or blue in color. It is, however much paler than normal.

 

[gallusdomesticus]

Ascites is also called 'water belly' as the bird's abdomen feels like a water balloon. It must be treated or it will eventually kill the bird by stressing her heart and circulatory system. I had a silver laced wyandotte with ascites that was caused by fatty liver syndrome (the vet thinks). I took her to the vet because, like you, I didn't want to stick her myself. You have to be careful not to penetrate her intestines as you will cause peritonitis. After draining a pint of fluid and putting her on milk thistle extract for the fatty liver problem, she has recovered and is doing fine. I hope your bird can get her fluid drained and recover quickly.

 

[Pampered Hen]

Thanks!
I'm still trying to figure out what I'm dealing with here. Her abdomen is definitely bigger than any of my healthy hens, but I can't say it feels like a water balloon, yet it is neither hard. And where exactly would I place a needle to drain accumulated fluids?

 

[gallusdomesticus]

That's the reason I took my bird to a vet to do the draining. If you don't want to do that, you might search for threads where people were successful in draining their chicken's abdomen. I remember seeing at least one thread that described a successful treatment. Perhaps you could send them a private message asking for details. Good luck!

 

[Pampered Hen]

Well,
my friend's vet was kind enough to come over and take a look at her. The prognosis is not good. It is neither ascites, not egg-binding, but rather a growth/tumor or internal laying. I will put her on Tetracycline beginning tomorrow, it might help fight off secondary infections, but will likely not cure her. I will keep a very close eye on her. I won't have her suffer needlessly.
Thanks for your comments and suggestions.