Hen isn't well for two days. Need help.

[Waqar4]

Hi,
We have a four years old Hen (either Orpington or Rhode Island). She became broody a year back and hasn't laid eggs since. But has been in perfect health, eats well, poops big and runs around.
But since last two days we have noticed that she's become lethargic, is making painful sounds (low chirping), has stopped her big poop. With great difficulty she excretes a dime size dry poop. She walks like she's pregnant with a big tummy and breathing with difficulty. Her tummy from behind also seems swollen big. Looks like she's either constipated, or has some liquid inside or maybe worms..?
She has also stopped eating all fresh vegetables and fruits, just eats a little dry scratch grain.

And we are suspecting she also may have laid a soft shell egg. We can't be sure since we have another egg laying hen.

Whats could be her problem? Is there something we can do at home, before we take her to the Vet?

Here she is:

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

Hmm. Could be reproductive issue, especially at that age.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you put on a disposable glove and insert a finger inside her vent 1-2 inches, and feel for an obstruction or an egg? It should normally feel just soft inside. She may be laying internally or have salpingitis, an inflammation of her ovary (oviduct.) If her lower belly is enlarged, that can be a sign of egg yolk peritonitis or ascites (water belly.) Cancer can also cause it. EYP goes along with internal laying and salpingitis. Sometimes they have have a mass called a lash egg that can be large and get stuck. Those may be seen inside the abdomen upon a necropsy or butchering. How does her crop feel? Is it empty, or full, firm, soft, or puffy?

 

[Waqar4]

Just want to close this thread with an update.

My Hen was diagnosed with egg yolk peritonitis as well as blocked eggs. She was put on antibiotics for a few days, but her condition was getting worse and she was having difficulty breathing and was swelling up.
So we decided to put her down :-(

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss, but you did the best thing for her to get a diagnosis, try to help her, then put her down. Unfortunately, many of us have lost hens to EYP. Reproductive disorders is a common cause of death in hens.