Growth on leg, swollen abdomen, waddling

[Emak2323]

Hello - I have a 1+ year old chicken who looks to have grown a spur like growth on one of her legs. She’s been slightly limping for the past couple months and I thought it was due to this. She tries desperately to stay away from me. She’s starting to really slow down now so I caught her the other day. Her belly feels very swollen and a bit warm to the touch the pad of her foot also appears a bit swollen. In December I lost a bird to tumors which were apparently not from mareks (I had a necropsy and mareks test done). Im wondering if it is tumors again or has anyone experienced this? Wondering if I need to put her down

 

[Chickenlover0810]

it does look like a spur, I don't know why he/she would be limping though......... where did you get a mareks test done? I had a necropsy done and the preliminary diagnosis was mareks

 

[Chickenlover0810]

also the swollen abdomen sounds likes she might be egg bound, does it feel like she has a somewhat firm ball in between her legs?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Many hens can and do grow spurs.

I would check her feet over really well for bumble foot.
It would show as a spot on the bottom of the foot, between the toes and even occasionally on top of the foot.

 

[Emak2323]

it does look like a spur, I don't know why he/she would be limping though......... where did you get a mareks test done? I had a necropsy done and the preliminary diagnosis was mareks

I got it done at UNH. Their prelim diagnosis was also mareks, but I did the test to be sure and it came back negative! Now that this one seems like she is having issues as well I am wondering

 

[Emak2323]

also the swollen abdomen sounds likes she might be egg bound, does it feel like she has a somewhat firm ball in between her legs?

It’s fairly firm. Perhaps I could try an epsom bath soak. I feel like I waited too long thinking it was the spur

 

[Emak2323]

Many hens can and do grow spurs.

I would check her feet over really well for bumble foot.
It would show as a spot on the bottom of the foot, between the toes and even occasionally on top of the foot.

If she had bumblefoot, could it be related to her swollen abdomen?

 

[21hens-incharge]

If she had bumblefoot, could it be related to her swollen abdomen?

No that would be a separate issue.

 

[Emak2323]

I wanted to update this thread. She had ascites (or water belly). I ordered an 18 gauge needle and a 30cc syringe. After sterilizing the area, I found her vent, went three inches down and slightly to the right (watch videos on water belly) to drain the fluid. I pulled out over a cup of fluid and then she walked around and continued to drain for quite a while. She seems much better and I’m letting her recover inside. She also has bumblefoot (I seriously don’t know how the heck, she’s the only one out of 25) so tomorrow if she seems well enough, I’ll try to treat that.

for posterity.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you for updating. I was glad to read that she seems more comfortable.

I am certainly no expert on treating it.