Ascites?

[Lady Lionheart]

If she has white legs, she's a Marans. Hatchery Marans tend not to lay the chocolate brown eggs so touted of this breed. My Cuckoo Marans hen lays smooth reddish brown eggs without freckles, the only distinction from my Welsummers' eggs that are reddish with freckles. As they age, the color fades further.

The missing feathers on your hen's swollen rump indicate the swelling is causing the feathers to be farther apart. I would limit her carbs and see if you can get her to lose that fat. As long as she's laying and is behaving normally, it may not be disease.

However, the swelling can indicate a reproductive infection in the works. Her poop would reflect the infection by being yellowish with lots of mucous. As it progresses, it would show more solid bits of yellowish pus. If her poop is normal at this time, I would suspect she's just an overweight lass with an out-of-control appetite.

I have a Light Brahma with a huge appetite that is slightly on the "heavy" side. It hasn't seemed to affect her health, though. She will be twelve in another month. Her name is Lady Di, and she assures me she's a "plus-size" model.

Thank you! And I love the story of your Lady Di! The more investigating I do, the more I'm starting to think she is "plus size".
Out with the treats. Or at least cut way back. Do you know about alfalfa? Should I not be giving them as much as I do? Every other day? I only started giving them that because they are confined to the run right now.

 

[azygous]

Yes, I know about alfalfa. I have fed fermented alfalfa during winter and the chickens loved it. I never saw any signs they were eating too much of it to their detriment.

 

[Lady Lionheart]

Yes, I know about alfalfa. I have fed fermented alfalfa during winter and the chickens loved it. I never saw any signs they were eating too much of it to their detriment.

Awesome. Thank you very much!

 

[Shadrach]

Firstly, sorry, not the greatest of pictures but hopefully good enough.
The gray hen is called Ruffles. She's about 7 years old. She's two thirds what a I believe you call Black Copper Maran.
The other hen is probably her mother.
Notice how low Ruffles's bum is. Her mum is also rather 'low slung', she's called Fat Bird, obvious why.
During the summer months her rear end tends to go a bit bare. I'm not sure why. If you feel her bum it does feel a bit watery. However, she's felt like this since she started laying more or less.
Ruffles likes her food and her men. In fact she is the hen in my avatar.
My point is, that despite what could be diagnosed as water belly she's sat and hatched twice, still lays eggs, waddles around with the others in her tribe and in general, lives a wonderful fulfilled life.
Chickens get health complaints just like people. The time to worry is when their health is so poor that their quality of life minimal. From what you've written this doesn't sound the case with your hen.
If she eats, is mobile and not in any obvious pain then my advice is let her be.
My rule here, which often gets broken, is if a chicken won't eat unaided for more than three days then they will probably die anyway. That imo is the time to help them on their way.
If a chicken here is ill, I have one now, but isn't eating enough, I do whatever I can to keep them going until they either give up eating altogether or it's obvious that they are in sever pain.
None of the above seems to be the case with your hen.

 

[Lady Lionheart]

Firstly, sorry, not the greatest of pictures but hopefully good enough.
The gray hen is called Ruffles. She's about 7 years old. She's two thirds what a I believe you call Black Copper Maran.
The other hen is probably her mother.
Notice how low Ruffles's bum is. Her mum is also rather 'low slung', she's called Fat Bird, obvious why.
During the summer months her rear end tends to go a bit bare. I'm not sure why. If you feel her bum it does feel a bit watery. However, she's felt like this since she started laying more or less.
Ruffles likes her food and her men. In fact she is the hen in my avatar.
My point is, that despite what could be diagnosed as water belly she's sat and hatched twice, still lays eggs, waddles around with the others in her tribe and in general, lives a wonderful fulfilled life.
Chickens get health complaints just like people. The time to worry is when their health is so poor that their quality of life minimal. From what you've written this doesn't sound the case with your hen.
If she eats, is mobile and not in any obvious pain then my advice is let her be.
My rule here, which often gets broken, is if a chicken won't eat unaided for more than three days then they will probably die anyway. That imo is the time to help them on their way.
If a chicken here is ill, I have one now, but isn't eating enough, I do whatever I can to keep them going until they either give up eating altogether or it's obvious that they are in sever pain.
None of the above seems to be the case with your hen.

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Thank you. I believe that I will just watch her. In fact, just spent a couple of hours sitting out in the run with them. Have to admit, it's been awhile since I was able to sit that long with them. Now that the days are warming up, I'll resume that. She is acting just fine. Poops are nomal but I did notice her eating a lot sooo.. Mystery solved I guess. My concern now is, because her bum is bare, she's getting picked on back there. What can I put on her to protect her skin while she hopefully loses some weight?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Read there's a thing to spray (No Peck) but if you have Blu Kote that may "color" the flesh so it won't stand out.
I also agree with the rest about "treats", feeding fruits & veggies. I have 4BO that felt "thin" and read about treats off setting the nurition in their feed. I stopped all treats per advice, fed them just their fermented Flock Raiser (OS/grit in separate dish). They gained weight and looking alot healthier. I now feed 1/8 cup each of BOSS & MW at close up, my guilt treat cause they are kept confined (residential area, fenced yard but hungry looking neighbors dogs).

 

[Shadrach]

Thank you. I believe that I will just watch her. In fact, just spent a couple of hours sitting out in the run with them. Have to admit, it's been awhile since I was able to sit that long with them. Now that the days are warming up, I'll resume that. She is acting just fine. Poops are nomal but I did notice her eating a lot sooo.. Mystery solved I guess. My concern now is, because her bum is bare, she's getting picked on back there. What can I put on her to protect her skin while she hopefully loses some weight?

Are you sure she's getting pecked at?
If I'm concerned about a wound getting pecked, which I might add is very unusual here unless blood is apparent, I cover the area in Pine Tar.
I think in your case the suggestion from @ChickNanny13 might be more appropriate.

 

[Lady Lionheart]

Are you sure she's getting pecked at?
If I'm concerned about a wound getting pecked, which I might add is very unusual here unless blood is apparent, I cover the area in Pine Tar.
I think in your case the suggestion from @ChickNanny13 might be more appropriate.

I seen her being pecked. She does already have a few little scabs from it. It's my little runt Blue Andalusian that's doing all the pecks. I will look for the no peck or blue kote. Thank you very much @ChickNanny13

 

[ChickNanny13]

You could also separate her in a wire cage with food & water, put the cage in the coop. No one can peck her, she can heal & still part of the flock