hen has distended abdomen but not eggbound?

[CoopD'Etat]

Ursula is at least 3 years old ( I got her as a hen) she is a silkie or silkie mix bantam chicken. She has a very enlarged abdomen from her breastbone down. It is even on both sides of the abdomen. It is about the size of a baseball or so and is very hard. I touched it all over and it does not appear to be sore, and it is evenly hard in all places. She seems a little skinny.

She has bright eyes and a good appetite, although she is somewhat more docile than usual ( she is practically feral.) Behaviorwise, I did notice that she no longer flies up to the roost with the other chickens like she usually does, but sleep on the ground with the rest of the silkies.

My first thought was that she was eggbound, due to the distended abdomen, but it is not at all squishy and doesn't feel like there are eggs in there. Also, she is not really lethargic the way they can be. Although, with her abdomen so large and tight, I wouldn't be surprised if she became eggbound. She does not discharge anything weird out of her vent. I have her indoors to help observe her more easily.

Thoughts? Advice? Thank you so much!

 

[Pistonman]

My gold laced wyandotte has/had a distended belly. I took her to the vet, they drained 1/2 liter of fluid and prescribed antibiotics. Her belly was kind of soft, they think it is an infection of the oviduct. Good luck.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Is she laying and whendid she last lay and has she been laying regularlay (and if not please describe)
Can you take and post a pic?

 

[earthnut]

My hen has a distended vent too. she hasn't laid in quite a while, but I don't think she's eggbound. I'm currently treating her for vent gleet , and have read that it can effect the oviduct too.