Bloated hen - put her down?

francine

Chirping
9 Years
Aug 13, 2011
9
2
62
Hi
I have been reading all the discussions and I am not sure what her problem is but it seems like something that is not curable. If I should put her down, how would I do that?
She is older and wasn't really laying last summer. I leave for the winter so a neighbor takes care of them in her barn. When I got them back this spring, this chicken was waddling and her legs would get "stuck" sometimes when she walks. I kinda wrote it off as old age. When they're out cruising the yard, she follows the other 7 slowly and will sit down and rest after a little while. She sleeps in a nest because she can't hop onto a roost. Her tail is always down. She eats and drinks a little and she poops. It looks normal but it's small and it seems like a effort. She does a lot of resting and breathes heavily. I'm afraid that she is getting even more bloated and it looks like her eyes are getting a little bloodshot(?). I tried the warm bath today and I don't think it will help because I don't think it's eggbound. It's been going on too long for that, right?
I don't know about draining the fluid... I could try it with some instruction. I've read that if it's clear, its a nice relief for them but if it's colored it's an indication of an infection and its the end.
Any other ideas? Any other suggestions?
If I do need to put her down, how do I do it gently and inexpensively? There are no vets nearby and I'd rather not pay the bills.
I've had a small flock of chickens for about 7 years and lost some chickens over the years to predators or old age, but I've never had to deal with something like this.
Thank you for any information.
 

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