Chicken with swollen belly

[MissMindy]

I have a sick hen. She's a 5 yr. old Barred Rock. She is eating, drinking, roosting on the highest spot and overall acting normal, except for her swollen belly. I've treated a chicken for ascites before, so I have a little experience with that. I first treated her for being egg-bound with Epsom salt soaks, mineral oil, crushed Tums in yogurt and olive oil. I then tried to tap her belly and didn't get any fluid. I can feel something in there and I can tell it hurts her when I gently feel it. It seems the size of an egg, but it moves so it's hard to be sure. She is continuing to swell and I think it hurts her to be picked up. I'm thinking this is the end. The picture is from Tuesday, her belly is bigger now. I first noticed last Thursday.
I did find this (1st picture)after her bath. It was very hard to get a picture working alone, but if you can enlarge you might be able to see the cone-like skin-colored thing sticking about 1/4-1/2" out of her back with little feathers poking out of it. It almost looks like an impacted feather and I'm wondering if that could cause an internal problems?
Any ideas? Looking for any kind of positive outcome.

 

[MissMindy]

Anyone have any other ideas? I love her so much as she's still going strong today.

 

[topochico225]

Could it be internal laying?

 

[MissMindy]

Is that the same as being egg-bound? I've been soaking her with no results. It has been a week.

 

[topochico225]

Is that the same as being egg-bound? I've been soaking her with no results. It has been a week.

Not sure, let me tag some experts...

@azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @aart

 

[azygous]

A reproductive infection may cause swelling of the abdomen just behind the legs. There's usually no symptoms of internal laying until the chicken gets sick and dies from it. The eggs are diverted into the abdominal cavity for some reason, usually unknown. Egg binding is different. It's an egg that gets stuck inthe oviduct or shell gland and it causes pain and discomfort that is shown by fluffing up and tail held low, and the desire to sit on a nest.

 

[mosander]

Is that the same as being egg-bound? I've been soaking her with no results. It has been a week.

 

[MissMindy]

A reproductive infection may cause swelling of the abdomen just behind the legs. There's usually no symptoms of internal laying until the chicken gets sick and dies from it. The eggs are diverted into the abdominal cavity for some reason, usually unknown. Egg binding is different. It's an egg that gets stuck inthe oviduct or shell gland and it causes pain and discomfort that is shown by fluffing up and tail held low, and the desire to sit on a nest.

Thank you this makes sense. I'm guessing it is internal laying because she is acting fine...so far. Is there anything else I can do for her?

 

[webmistress32]

The little fingerlike projection is the oil gland they use to preen their feathers. Just leave that be.

If your hen is having a water retention problem in her belly, that's called Ascites (water belly) https://backyardchickenchatter.com/what-is-water-belly-ascites-in-chickens/

I had one here that had a pretty mild case and it didn't get better or worse for at least 2 years but she did pass away. In the most recent times I felt her belly it seemed like she had a big tumor, and that probably caused the ascites.

you'll want to consider draining the fluids if you want to keep her alive for a bit. its painless and will extend her life. but eventually she will probably pass. sorry about that.

 

[MissMindy]

No avian vet with 2 hrs