Chicken's bottom is red and swollen, won't eat, just lays down all day

[LunaLov]

Hello! Any ideas what can be wrong with my chicken? She's 4 years old. And doesn't seem able to stand. She can move her legs but it seems to be with much effort. Her belly to bottom is red and seems swollen. I felt around her underneath and don't feel anything out of the ordinary except swollen belly. She hasn't eaten in two days but is drinking water. She's alert but doesn't even try to move when I touch her, nor complains when I pick her up. Normally she doesn't like us holding her. I would appreciate any advice/ideas you may have.
Thank you!

 

[ChickenGal1842]

Oh no!! No one answered you!!! Well, for swelling, put a pinch of tumeric in food or water every time you change it... Try feeding her treats like bread pieces or spinach or cracked corn and see if she will eat that. I don't know what could be causing this problem tho. Ground ginger is good for upset chicken stomachs.. put a half pinch in food or water also... I really hope this helps!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's 4 years old

doesn't seem able to stand. She can move her legs but it seems to be with much effort. Her belly to bottom is red and seems swollen.

hasn't eaten in two days but is drinking water.

I'm sorry about your hen, how is she doing?
When was the last time she laid an egg?
Does the belly feel hard or like it has fluid in it?
Is her crop emptying overnight?
What does her poop look like?
Any photos you would like to share would be appreciated.

At 4years old, she may have an internal laying/reproductive disorder like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, cancer or tumors. Symptoms include loose droppings, loss of appetite, weight loss in the breast, swelling/bloat/fluid in the abdomen, difficulty walking and labored breathing.

Offer her supportive care, see that she is staying hydrated and offer her food. She may find a little egg or tuna along with wet feed agreeable. Check her crop to see if it's emptying. Antibiotics can sometimes give them some relief, but the results are short-lived.

 

[LunaLov]

She does seem to have fluid in her abdomen. It just seemed to come on suddenly though, over one day. She hasn’t eaten since Friday but is drinking a little. I’ve felt around for anything hard, massaged her a bit to see if anything was stuck or caused pain, but nothing. She’s very quite, let’s me touch her, hold her without a peep. She just lays in the same spot for days now. I have given her warm soaks which she seems to like. It’s not looking good though and I don’t want her to suffer just lying there unable to eat. Not sure what to do.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m so sorry. A laying disorder is a strong possibility at her age, but ascites (fluid in her belly) can be brought on by other things, as well. Is an avian Vet an option so you can have her fluid drained and inspected? If she were mine, I would try a course of antibiotics before giving up.
I would love on her and make her as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, she may not have much time. Please prepare yourself for that possibility. So sorry.
Can @casportpony or @azygous advise on antibiotics or anything else?

 

[azygous]

This story reminds me of my very first hen. I adopted Connie when she was around three years, and I had her for a year when I found her in the coop much as you discovered your hen, lying motionless and not being able to stand.

I was very new to chickens and just assumed this was some sort of wasting disease because each day she was a bit worse. Finally, she could only eat when I held a small cup of feed under her beak, and last, she could no longer get out of her own poop.

Years later I learned that my flock carries an avian virus, and it may have begun with that first hen. The virus causes tumors on joints and organs, and it causes the same symptoms my hen had and yours seems to have.

I finally decided to euthanize her since it was obvious she was never going to get back on her feet. Once a chicken can no longer stand, lies down and can no longer move, death is usually close. If that happens, I strongly suggest you get a necropsy performed on her body. Refrigerate, don't freeze, the body until you can locate a lab.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She does seem to have fluid in her abdomen. It just seemed to come on suddenly though, over one day. She hasn’t eaten since Friday but is drinking a little. I’ve felt around for anything hard, massaged her a bit to see if anything was stuck or caused pain, but nothing. She’s very quite, let’s me touch her, hold her without a peep. She just lays in the same spot for days now. I have given her warm soaks which she seems to like. It’s not looking good though and I don’t want her to suffer just lying there unable to eat. Not sure what to do.

I'm very sorry

From your description it sounds like she is not doing well at all.
Not moving or eating for days and drinking very little, it sounds like she is dying.

If you lose her, sending her for necropsy or performing an informal investigation yourself will usually give you more information as to the cause of her decline: Your state lab can be found here: https://vetmed.oregonstate.edu/diagnostic