Gold Comet with distended abdomen and trouble walking

[edaddy]

I have a Gold Comet Hen and she has developed a large abdomen and it appears that everything has just dropped toward the ground. Her butt has gotten really wide and she waddles really bad when she walks. It has become so bad she can't step over a 2x4 in the chicken coop. She still eats and drinks and does have some have some feces on her tail feather but not a whole lot. She gets winded very easily when walking and I am just not sure what is going on with her. She is housed with 15 other hens in our coop and gets to free range occasionally. What could possibly be wrong with her? I am not sure she if she is laying eggs since she lays in the same place as the other chickens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
could be ascites, here is a link to some info, I have a hen the same way, she is eating and drinking and doing all chicken things, and doesn't seem to be in distress so we are just letting her be, it's simiular to congestive heart failure except it's in chickens. https://www.backyardchickens.com/se.../forum/viewtopic.php?pid=7205347#p7205347#473

 

[speckledhen]

Considering she is a hybrid layer, could also be fluid buildup related to internal laying. They are prone to that. These threads may be helpful to you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=362422

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=195347