HELP PLZ...chicken about to POP :’-(

[Wyorp Rock]

she has been waddling, getting bigger, eating less & is now almost shutting down.

Bcuz sprinkling the coop & boxes w/diatomaceous earth hasn’t done much to decrease our bug issue

I just ran into feeling a huge, bulbous mass of flesh in her & was afraid to hurt her by venturing further.

But to pick her up, Omgosh I can only imagine how much she’s hurting bcuz she literally feels so distended that one hard poke & she might actually POP!

—-I don’t feel an egg...but I also don’t know if I’m in far enuf cuz I’m terrified of hurting her...after her rocky white pebble-like poop came out that seemed stuck...I just ran into a little bloody mucus(?)...and it’s a puffy ball of tissue, as I can best describe it

she’s really as tight as a basketball under there I feel so terrible I can’t seem to help her!

I think that even if you were able to get more out, it's going to be a drop in the bucket, so to speak. If it's lash egg material, it can be very firm, not water soluble, and I think there would be risk of rupturing something in the process, not to mention the discomfort likely. I have read of cases where masses of matter were surgically removed in the case of internal laying, but they were less advanced than this. Surgery would come with a high risk also.

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.

I agree with @coach723 from your description, she has a reproductive problem. The bloody mucous and puffy ball of tissue, to me sounds like Salpingitis. Your mention of the hen's abdomen being so full/distended and tight your afraid it might pop, sounds like she also may have Ascites which is fluid in the abdomen, this often is another symptom/condition that accompanies the various reproductive problems a hen can have.
The pressure in the abdomen is likely pressing on her internal organs, making her shut down. Draining and antibiotics are a very short term fix with most repro problems. If you are seeing bloody mucous along with a great deal of swelling/discomfort, sometimes the best solution is to put the hen out of her misery. Not a line of thinking that is very popular, but sometimes we have to think about then hen's quality of life and how much longer we want them to suffer while we are trying to fix them, even if the fix is just a short period of time.

For your bug problem - you need to treat each chicken in 7 day intervals with a permethrin based spray or dust. Clean out the housing and treat it as well.
Since you are dealing with a large number of bird, it would be more economical to buy a concentrate, then mix according to the direction on the label. Look at your local Tractor Supply.

Just my 2¢

 

[micstrachan]

How is she today? Do you have the means to kindly euthanized her if she is suffering? Or maybe you could just keep her as comfortable as possible. It’s true draining and antibiotics would likely only be a short term fix if she has an advanced reproductive disorder. I hope you are able to bring her a little comfort. So sorry.

 

[micstrachan]

@Hen Pen Jem, do you have any thoughts for helping this hen?

 

[J3ChknMama]

I unfortunately do not have any medications here to help put her out of her misery, nor do I have anything necessary to have tried the removal of fluid via other methods...bcuz this poor girl took this terrible turn while I’ve been pretty busy w/my one-year old son...and I soaked her & worked on her for 4-5 hours yesterday (which really set things awry w/my little tyke for the day as you could imagine) But I guess I had hoped against hope I could help her somehow. If I have no meds at this point, however, and the poor girl is being barely sustained by the fact I’m giving her probiotics & antibiotics via droppers w/water...should I simply stop? Or is there a better way for me to put her out of her misery? I do not want to try to put her out of her misery & do smthg half way & hurt her terribly, I would just lose it...
The description I’ve read about the “ascites” mentioned by several of you (again, thank-you all for ur help, suggestions & info!) sounds like it might be wut I’m feeling on her...if there’s a ton of fluid backed up in her system & against her organs...that might explain why I can’t feel or discern any specific part of her anatomy or innards from another...all I feel when I hold her sadly is almost like a balloon, but w/fluid...ugh & she’s still alive, but not able to do anything at this point.

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[MickWithChicks]

If it is ascites, have you tried draining the excess fluid? @rebrascora put me onto this video which may be of help to you:

If you do manage to drain the fluid, she'll find instant relief, however, if it's a recurring issue it's likely terminal and your best option is to euthanise her humanely.

 

[J3ChknMama]

So as of right now, I do not expect I can do anything to help our poor hen. I suspect that she will likely not make it thru the night, as I’m going to quit giving her droppers of antibiotic & probiotics. She’s barely responsive & I feel I’m only prolonging her suffering. That’s not what I want to do. But you guys are the best! Thank you so very much for your input & help troubleshooting. I’m very disappointed I couldn’t help pull her out of this, but all of the info you guys have given me should help me w/the other chickens. Ugh...lots to do to get this coop & all these chickens de-bugged, but at least now I have better (& more precise) ideas on what we need to do...thank-you guys so much!

 

[ShouldabeenaVET]

I would say call a vet if you are so inclined. If it was me I would just cull her. That's the hard part of being a chicken Mom. I can't see calling a vet for a $4 chicken. I wouldnt eat her but dispose of her. I have had a couple with salpingitis and did so. If you can stand it. Do a necropsy and you will know for sure. Wear gloves but it is pretty interesting and cool if that is in your realm of acceptance. Personally I love guts. Good Luck

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I think OP needs instruction on culling if I am understanding this right.

 

[bobbi-j]

You can look up the "broomstick method". I have not tried it, but LazyGardener and others have, and swear by it. Here we use the hatchet and stump method, but that's not for everyone either. If nothing else, you could have a vet put her down.