HELP! 2 weeks of limping chicken/green poop/swollen belly

[agrace117]

Please help!! I am a new chicken owner and very concerned by one of my layers being sick.

Symptoms:

-Very swollen abdomen with feathers gone/sparse
-Red raw patch on bottom of abdomen (may be caused by swelling and rubbing on ground)
-Green watery poop
-Limping with left foot toes closing up and not standing well on that leg
-Very bony (I can feel her chest bone when I pick her up)
-Still loves food (food aggressive) and drinks well
-Wants to roam around but has difficult taking more than 5 steps now

She has been like this almost 2 1/2 weeks now.

I have been doing research every day. Thought she might be egg bound at first - soaked her and tried to feel for an egg but didn't feel anything. Thought maybe bumble foot with an infection spreading that might cause the swollen belly but no signs of wound on her feet.

Internal laying? Peritonitis? Maybe peritonitis causing nerve damage thus the limping and curling of toes?

I don't know what to do and am afraid to wait to long and make her suffer but also afraid to take her life if there is an easy fix.

Please help!!

 

[brittinfl]

I too have a limping chicken with a swollen red belly, I don't know about the poop. The limping leg also seems hotter that the other leg. Did you ever find out what was wrong?

 

[Eggcessive]

I too have a limping chicken with a swollen red belly, I don't know about the poop. The limping leg also seems hotter that the other leg. Did you ever find out what was wrong?

Sometimes a swollen red belly can be from egg yolk peritonitis. The limping may be from a sprain, or possibly infection. I would let her rest the leg for a few days, give her some vitamins and probiotics, and see if it is better in a week. Here is some info on EYP: http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx

 

[Michael Apple]

Please help!! I am a new chicken owner and very concerned by one of my layers being sick.

Symptoms:

-Very swollen abdomen with feathers gone/sparse
-Red raw patch on bottom of abdomen (may be caused by swelling and rubbing on ground)
-Green watery poop
-Limping with left foot toes closing up and not standing well on that leg
-Very bony (I can feel her chest bone when I pick her up)
-Still loves food (food aggressive) and drinks well
-Wants to roam around but has difficult taking more than 5 steps now

She has been like this almost 2 1/2 weeks now.

I have been doing research every day. Thought she might be egg bound at first - soaked her and tried to feel for an egg but didn't feel anything. Thought maybe bumble foot with an infection spreading that might cause the swollen belly but no signs of wound on her feet.

Internal laying? Peritonitis? Maybe peritonitis causing nerve damage thus the limping and curling of toes?

I don't know what to do and am afraid to wait to long and make her suffer but also afraid to take her life if there is an easy fix.

Please help!!

2.5 weeks is a long time to be in this condition. It could be 2 things going on at once. In heavier, mature chickens they can get an infection around the breast bone. The keel, or breast bone of a chicken naturally has fluid in it. The fluid is to protect the breast bone while the chicken is in a roosting position. Sometimes the fluid can become infected and swell or cause a visible sore. The infection can travel throughout the body over time if not treated fast enough.

Penicillin will take care of the infection @ 1/2 cc injection at the site of the wound, if one exists. Do it once a day for 4-5 days. Here's some helpful info about Pen injections: https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

The other antibiotic effective in this case is Tetracycline powder in the water at 1 tsp per gallon for 10 days. You can also wrap rags securely around the roost to prevent deep keeled chickens prone to this problem. The digestive trouble could be due to the stress, or a result of the infection.

 

[ten chicks]

Agreed, 21/2 weeks is a long time. You mentioned that she is eating,but the green poop and weight loss suggests otherwise. Green poop(other than eating grass clipping/plant matter) indicates she is starving. Is she limping sideways,possibly she is dragging her abdomen on ground,you mentioned you checked for bumblefoot,did you check between toes? Any indication of fracture/sprain to leg/foot? Is her leg hot/swollen? Any issues with the nails on toes? Any crop issues,full during day,empty in morning. Has she ever been wormed? Have you checked for mites/lice? Worms/lice/mites pertain to weight loss.