Chicken can hardly walk, fluffed up

[Chicka Chicka]

Hi BYC!
I have had this Rhode Island Red chicken for around 5 yrs. Recently, (for a few weeks now) she has been fluffed up, and her legs seem to be out farther than usual. She hasn't laid for a while. She crouches down a lot and doesn't stand for long periods of time. Her usual spunk is gone. It has gone from never letting a person touch her, to us being able to pet her. She still has an appetite. Help! What could it be?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi BYC!
I have had this Rhode Island Red chicken for around 5 yrs. Recently, (for a few weeks now) she has been fluffed up, and her legs seem to be out farther than usual. She hasn't laid for a while. She crouches down a lot and doesn't stand for long periods of time. Her usual spunk is gone. It has gone from never letting a person touch her, to us being able to pet her. She still has an appetite. Help! What could it be?

How does her abdomen feel - hard, soft, bloated, fluid filled, normal?
When she did lay eggs, were they normal?
What does her poop look like?

It's hard to determine what's going on, but with the symptoms you describe she may have an internal laying/reproductive disorder like Peritonitis, Ascites, cancer or tumors. Try to make her comfortable and give supportive care. Offer some poultry vitamins in her water and give some extra protein like egg, tuna, mackerel or meat.

You may want to take a fecal sample to your vet for testing of Cocci, worms and bacterial infection to rule out any of these.

Keep us posted.

Peritonitis and internal egg laying issues:
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/tag/laying-issues/
http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/6-causes-of-chicken-swollen-abdomen.aspx
http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/backyard-poultry/egg-yolk-peritonitis/