Egg bound? Tried to examine vent, not sure if I did it right

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you so much for responding. The reason I thought something was wrong with her is that she was staying in the coop by herself. I felt her crop and it was empty and I could feel her breast bone. I brought her in three days ago and just yesterday her belly between her legs is hard and I thought it was an egg, but, it could be swelling instead. I don't know when the last time she laid an egg.

The antibiotic I gave her is some that the vet gave me for one of my ducks (she passed).

This morning when I checked on her, I saw three small poops. I smelt her breath and it doesn't smell sour. When I first brought her in she would peck at some bread and tomatoes but not her feed and now she wont even eat that. I am going to try to upload a picture, although I am not good at that.

Thank you again for your input.

Oh, she's not feeling well
Since you have not been able to feel an egg, she's not pooping much and she has a hard abdomen, likely she has a reproductive problem going on.
If you have vet care, they can perform an xray to see if there is a mass in the abdomen, but sadly, even if you see it there is not much that can be done.

If you do give her antibiotics, that may help with inflammation and give her some short term relief - just give her the correct dosage for the full course of treatment.

Sometimes all you can do is give them supportive care like you have been doing, give them a couple of days to see if they will perk back up.

 

[rebrascora]

I know you will not want to hear this but she is very sick. I agree with Wyorp Rock that this may well be an incurable reproductive ailment like Salpingitis and euthanizing her is something to consider. Her lower abdomen looks very distended and that upright hunched, penguin posture is common with salpingitis..... an infection of the oviduct where it becomes impacted with a mass of lash egg (pus and solidified egg) material that is too large to pass... sometimes the size of a grapefruit... and causes a lot of discomfort. Eventually it presses against the gut and partially blocks it and the bird is unable to pass waste properly and their system becomes toxic. If she is no longer eating and not producing any significant poop, I would say it is time consider ending her suffering.

 

[Judy4222]

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 1618890

How is she doing now?
It looks like she is relaxed anyway

 

[Judy4222]

I think I know what happened to her. I hand-raised a drake and when he was old enough, I put him outside in the coop with the chickens. He started to mate with them until I broke him of the habit. I think this happened to her a while back and it is getting worse. She has pooped today and drank water and tomato soup. Just got finished soaking and drying her. I did give her more prednisone for the swelling and pain along with the antibiotic. Thursday, I will make the decision on what to do.

 

[Judy4222]

I also added castor oil to her bath tonight. It helps with the swelling and is an bactericidal. Plus I thought the oil would help the vent get lubed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think I know what happened to her. I hand-raised a drake and when he was old enough, I put him outside in the coop with the chickens. He started to mate with them until I broke him of the habit. I think this happened to her a while back and it is getting worse. She has pooped today and drank water and tomato soup. Just got finished soaking and drying her. I did give her more prednisone for the swelling and pain along with the antibiotic. Thursday, I will make the decision on what to do.

Does her vent look like it's damaged?
A male duck can injure or kill a pullet/hen since chickens are not made to accept a penis. When mating, a rooster does not penetrate at all, it is simply a touching of the vents.

 

[Judy4222]

No, her vent looks normal. I'm just guessing that may have happened to her. This duck was confused and thought he was a chicken. He stays with the other ducks now. Her belly is bloated and her crop is empty. I do think I may have to put her out of her misery.

 

[Judy4222]

I did not know that the vents just touch during chicken mating. I have read that ducks can kill a chicken trying to mate with them. When I realized this was happening, I immediately took action to keep him away from them. The roosters would attack him too.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No, her vent looks normal. I'm just guessing that may have happened to her. This duck was confused and thought he was a chicken. He stays with the other ducks now. Her belly is bloated and her crop is empty. I do think I may have to put her out of her misery.

Unfortunately a bloated belly is not a good sign
IF it's fluid that is causing the bloat, sometimes that can be drained to give some relief short term.
Bloating is commonly caused by Internal Laying, EYP, Salpingitis, cancer, tumors or infection.

Only you can determine what shape she is in. If she is in misery and it seems that she is getting worse, it's a kindness to let them go.
It's very sad and heartbreaking for sure.

If you do put her down, consider sending the body to your state lab or if you can perform and informal exam yourself, we can help you with what you see if you post photos. I don't mean that to sound heartless, but I've found it give a bit of comfort if I can figure out what happened.

Here's a good article on chicken mating - it's well put together. For mating in chickens it's called a "cloacal kiss" since they just touch vents. https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-mating-how-does-that-work/

I did not know that the vents just touch during chicken mating. I have read that ducks can kill a chicken trying to mate with them. When I realized this was happening, I immediately took action to keep him away from them. The roosters would attack him too.