Help her vent is swollen and I don't know why

[Zimzim27]

Hello my chickens name is Kate and her vent is swollen. She is at the bottom of the pecking order and has lots of feathers missing. Right now it is really bad and I've noticed that her vent is swollen and red and pulsating alot, with every pulsate she wheezes. Her poop is sometimes white or it is really liquidy. Sofar I have given her an Epson salt bath for between 5-10 minutes to clean the poop off of her butt. Please help me I am really worried about my little chicky.

 

[MochaDuck]

@casportpony

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Did you feel inside the vent to see if she has a stuck egg?

 

[Trux]

 

[Zimzim27]

Did you feel inside the vent to see if she has a stuck egg?

Yes I did. When I felt it it didn't feel shell like it was a hard surface with a layer of flesh over it. Hope this helps.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes I did. When I felt it it didn't feel shell like it was a hard surface with a layer of flesh over it. Hope this helps.

Is she able to poop?

In the photos her abdomen is swollen below the vent as well, would you say that it feels like it has fluid in it (tight like a drum) or is hard, soft, etc.

The wheezing is concerning, I would be inclined to say she may have Ascites which is a symptom from fluid in the abdomen caused by reproductive problems or organ failure (usually the liver). Labored breathing and/or wheezing can accompany most reproductive issues like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, cancer, tumors and salpingitis as well.

IF she has fluid in the abdomen that can sometimes be drained to give the hen some relief for a while. It's not a cure since there is an underlying cause, but it can make her more comfortable. You can try it yourself, but if you have vet care that is always best.
Draining can introduce bacteria into the abdomen, so you need to be aware of that and do some research before you make a decision.

 

[Zimzim27]

Is she able to poop?

In the photos her abdomen is swollen below the vent as well, would you say that it feels like it has fluid in it (tight like a drum) or is hard, soft, etc.

The wheezing is concerning, I would be inclined to say she may have Ascites which is a symptom from fluid in the abdomen caused by reproductive problems or organ failure (usually the liver). Labored breathing and/or wheezing can accompany most reproductive issues like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, cancer, tumors and salpingitis as well.

IF she has fluid in the abdomen that can sometimes be drained to give the hen some relief for a while. It's not a cure since there is an underlying cause, but it can make her more comfortable. You can try it yourself, but if you have vet care that is always best.
Draining can introduce bacteria into the abdomen, so you need to be aware of that and do some research before you make a decision.

Yes she is able to poop. Above her vent it is soft but below it is tighter.

 

[Zimzim27]

Yes she is able to poop. Above her vent it is soft but below it is tighter.

Well the hardness changed it pulses between hard and soft

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is she able to poop?
Is she still wheezing?
Is she alert or lethargic?
Will she eat/drink on her own or are you having to syringe fluids into her?

From what I can gather from your description and the photos, she is likely suffering from a reproductive problem. Internal Laying, Egg Yolk Peritonitis, cancer, tumors, Ascites, Salpingitis are all common in laying hens.
Sometimes there is not much that can be done but to offer supportive care and end suffering when they decline further.

 

[Eggcessive]

Wyorp Rock has already addressed the abdomen. Her feathers may not grow back in until she molts. In the meantime, I would get some pine tar from your feed store and apply it to her bare back, tail, and the red area above her vent. Stay an inch away from her vent.

Are the chickens overcrowded? What do you feed them? What breeds are they? Are other hens missing feathers? Do they get outside to free range. Feather picking can lead to vent pecking and cannibalism. An average amount of room per chicken is 4 square feet in the coop and 10 square feet in the run. You can sometimes get by with less if get out to free range. Placing some things to climb on or peck at can help with boredom. Spending time with them to watch who is pecking may be helpful. You can separate an agressive bird for a week to lower their rank in the pecking order. I have had to rehome more aggressive birds who picked on others.