Does anyone know what’s wrong with my chicken?

Chicken1203

Hatching
Apr 20, 2025
3
2
6
Hello
my chicken is not very well. She has a large (squishy) belly and ruffled feathers she is very slow moving and tired. She also has a pulsating vent. She is obviously struggling to walk around as normal and has a pooey bottom. She doesn’t normally let me pick her up but now she does and just stands there while I pick her up. Any ideas on what it could be would be very appreciated.

We got her from a battery farm rehoming place about a year and a bit ago so she is about 3 Maybe?

We have tried giving her a rest away from the others and an Epsom salt bath which she seemed to enjoy but has not really helped

Pictures attatched
Thanks
 

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Last edited:
Welcome to BYC. I'm sorry you have joined under these circumstances.

Thank you for making the last year plus of your girl's life a good one.
Sadly, with the high production hybrid breeds, the heavy egg output greatly shortens their lives. She is likely suffering from EYP or reproductive cancer. There is really nothing that can realistically be done for her to save her. IMO and if she were mine, I would euthanize her. I'm very sorry. :hugs
 
Welcome to BYC. I'm sorry you have joined under these circumstances.

Thank you for making the last year plus of your girl's life a good one.
Sadly, with the high production hybrid breeds, the heavy egg output greatly shortens their lives. She is likely suffering from EYP or reproductive cancer. There is really nothing that can realistically be done for her to save her. IMO and if she were mine, I would euthanize her. I'm very sorry. :hugs
Hello, thank you for your reply it’s so sad as she’s so lovely but if I weren’t to euthanise her, how long would she live for?
 
She may have a reproductive disorder, such as salpingitis or egg yolk peritonitis or water belly. Has she laid any eggs recently? Have you found any soft or thin shelled eggs in the nests recently? If she could be having trouble laying an egg now, I would offer her a human calcium tablet 300-600 mg with vitamin D or a Tums given orally. Just pop it into her beak. Offer some fluids and scrambled egg, wet chicken feed up to her beak. So sorry that she is acting sick.
 
I forgot to add, feel of her crop and tell us if it is empty, full, firm, dough-like, or squishy. Then again early tomorrow am, feel of it again when it should be empty after no food or water for 8-9 hours.
 
She may have a reproductive disorder, such as salpingitis or egg yolk peritonitis or water belly. Has she laid any eggs recently? Have you found any soft or thin shelled eggs in the nests recently? If she could be having trouble laying an egg now, I would offer her a human calcium tablet 300-600 mg with vitamin D or a Tums given orally. Just pop it into her beak. Offer some fluids and scrambled egg, wet chicken feed up to her beak. So sorry that she is acting sick.
Hello, thanks for the suggestions. I don’t think she has laid any eggs or eggshells since she’s been sick no
 
I usually try to keep them eating and drinking, and help them if they have crop problems. If the others pick on her, I would separate her. If she goes downhill and seems to be suffering, I would consider euthanizing her.
 

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