Chicken not feeling great... old age?

Thanks for bearing with me guys! Just got home. She's foraging around the garden. Had a feel, not 100% sure how to properly do it but it was all hard and not very squishy... as in if she was a human I'd say shed have quit a tinned belly! She didn't flinch in pain as I touched though but did make some displeased noises!
 
This two and a half year old hen isn't old. Old age isn't what's wrong with her.

Look at where she came from. You say she's the last of her flock, the others having died. That's a clue that whatever killed those other hens may be working it's deadly way on this hen. If they were the same age as Penny, there's a possibility a pathogen in play and they didn't die of egg related issues after all.

You might try an antibiotic, but you will need to see a vet, and if it's a virus, it will do no good. If she dies, you might be able to get a necropsy and find out if exposure to her has infected your other hens with something.

Long ago, when I got my very first two adopted hens, around three years of age that I began my flock with, one died during the night soon after. I got a replacement from the same flock and everything was fine. But I had mysterious sudden deaths over the years. I've since found out that this isn't the normal way of flocks.

Finally, after a cockerel sickened and died at just eleven months, I got a necropsy and learned my flock carries the lymphotic leucosis virus, and it was likely brought into my flock with those very first adopted hens.

Not saying this is what's wrong with Penny, but it's a possibility.
 
Until you can get to a vet with Penny give her a soak in a warm tub surely won't hurt her and try to get a peek at her laying bits just to see if there is any indication of a possible prolapse like her flock sisters. Good luck to the both of you.
 

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