Big Red Ball Below The Vent

[TheHenHen]

Hello, My hen, Chatty, has had this thing going on where she is leaning back like she is going to fall over. I looked around the vent area, and found below the vent, a big red ball. It looks like her crop, but bigger, and redder. I'm posting a couple of pictures for you.
I'm sorry is they are gross for you, but this is the only way I can let you see what is wrong with her.

She stands like this, as if the big ball is so heavy it causes her to lean
like this.

This is the big red ball, could it be feed? Worms? Eggs?

Do you have any idea what is wrong with her? She doesn't really run fast, but will come when the feed is being poured. Is there a way to get rid of this?

Thanks!

 

[casportpony]

It's probably fluid. I have one that I have to drain every few months, but I had one that died while I was trying to drain it.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

If you're curious, I started a thread with *very* graphic necropsy pictures on the one that died. If they were porn pictures, they would be XXX rated, so don't click on the link it that sort of thing bothers you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...scites-and-eyp-very-graphic-necropsy-pictures

-Kathy

 

[TheHenHen]

How do you drain the fluid? Do you have to get a vet? Or a needle?

I'm okay with disturbing pictures. I look at gross things all the time when I first walk into my run.

 

[TheHenHen]

How do you drain the fluid? Do you get a vet? Needle? I'm sorry for your loss, I had an ISA Brown chicken who died recently, She had a lot of trouble with prolapsed vents.

I'm all right seeing disturbing pictures.

 

[casportpony]

I use a needle to drain mine, but there is probable a safer way to do it, like with one of those thing the put in your arm when they give you an IV line at the hospital. Looks like this:


-Kathy

 

[TheHenHen]

Would you have to buy that needle? How much would it cost?

 

[MelissaTXRn]

You can buy 18 gauge needles at most feed stores. Usually are less than a quarter each.

 

[casportpony]

Needles are cheap, but I'm not sure that they are the safest way to drain abdominal fluid, see picture in post #6, I think that's safer, but I have no idea what they're called or where to get them.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

One also needs a large syringe.

-Kathy