Help I think my chicken is sick.

[idahormp]

Hi I am new to the ownership of chickens, we have 4 chickens 2 Longhorn and 2 Buff Orphingtons, they are all about 21-22 weeks old since we've had them I'm not sure how long they are when you get them from the store. Three of our 4 hens are laying just fine, but we have one Buff Orphington that has not started to lay. She seems to be left out sometimes when the other hens free range, she looks as though she is bloated and she is larger than her sister Buff, my husband noticed yesterday that something is hanging from her rear, he said it looked like her insides were hanging out and that it was red, I have yet to see this for myself. She has been very loving lately letting me hold her I feel it may be because she is feeling ill and when I do hold her she has a clear liquid that I get on my arm, she doesn't run or fly around like the others. One day I found something in the driveway that looked like an egg but was just soft with liquid inside. Any ideas what could be wrong with my chicken?
Thanks!

 

[seminolewind]

I think you should look at her vent and possibly get a picture. The wet arm you get could be nothing. Is there a particular area that she feels swollen in?

 

[idahormp]

Thank you for the reply I'm embarrassed to say I don't know what her vent is, can you tell me? She doesn't seem swollen to the touch, but when you look at her its like she is just plugged up or something or she has air inside. I haven't seen her in 2 days because of work so tonight I will pay close attention and take some pictures.

 

[idahormp]

I took a look at my Buff this evening and it looks like her egg sack is inside out, some part of her skin in the shape of an egg is hanging from her bum and the skin is bright red with poo all over. She seems to act fine.

 

[seminolewind]

I think what you have there is serious and needs a vet. That egg thing needs to be removed so the skin can go back inside.

 

[leadwolf1]

I think what you have there is serious and needs a vet. That egg thing needs to be removed so the skin can go back inside.

X2

Chickens are prey animals and will not show signs of illness until it is sometimes too late to save them. She can't live with her insides on the outside. She is going to, or already has, a serious infection if you don't get that taken care of quickly. Put her in a quiet, safe, clean place where she can rest and no flies can get to her. Contact a vet. If you can't find one or, can't afford one, the humane thing to do is euthanize. So sorry you are going through this.