Inflamed backside

[Rose_coop]

We have a chicken who is a great layer (still laying regularly) but has an inflamed bum. She lost her fluff feathers months ago when they became caked with poo. When we soaked her in warm water the feathers came out. Now were noticing some bruising, bloody poo, and it looks puffy with water retention.

She is eating, ranging, and laying fine. Any suggestions for treatments or mext steps would be appreciated!

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Oh my goodness I’m so sorry!
@fluffycrow @azygous @Eggcessive can you please help this poor chicken?

 

[fluffycrow]

I'm not experienced at all in this kind of thing, so I cannot give advice, it would be irresponsible of me to do so

 

[azygous]

This has been going on for months now? Do you know when the redness/inflammation started? Has she been injured or was this spontaneous? Could the other chickens have pecked at her butt and injured it?

What does her poop look like? How is her appetite?

How long has the swelling of the butt been going on? Months?

I have an idea as to what this is but need the above information to confirm it.

 

[Rose_coop]

This has been going on for months now? Do you know when the redness/inflammation started? Has she been injured or was this spontaneous? Could the other chickens have pecked at her butt and injured it?

What does her poop look like? How is her appetite?

How long has the swelling of the butt been going on? Months?

I have an idea as to what this is but need the above information to confirm it.

She hasn't had feathers on her bottom for months, they never started to grow back either. Her bottom has been bare, but this swelling and splotches are new.

We noticed bloody poo in the coop today, the bruising and swelling is new. Within last 48-72 hours. Blood in the last 24, they free range every day and we put them up at night so we would have noticed yesterday.

She's free ranging fine (moving around well not lethargic at all), eating and drinking as far as we can tell. She's laying fine, laid yesterday but not today.

Thanks for your help!

 

[azygous]

The one thing that is preventing me from figuring this out is that your hen is continuing to lay. In order to lay eggs, the hen must be reasonably healthy. It virtually rules out a reproductive issue.

Therefore, the swelling in the abdomen must be either fat or ascites, ascites being fluid retention from liver disease. Let me ask this - when you stand the hen on her feet. Does the swelling push her legs apart so her stance is much wider than the other hens? Is her swelling mostly between and in front of the legs or is it behind the legs and below the vent?

I'm thinking the abrasions and bruising on her bare swollen part is from roosting on a rough wooden perch, and it's aggravated by the swelling. What sort of roosting perch does she sleep on?

The bloody poop is a wild card. If it's related to the swelling somehow, it escapes me. More likely the bloody stool is coincidental. Are you sure it's blood and not intestinal lining? Blood is ruby red. Intestinal lining is much paler, a red-orange, and usually it's stringing, not clots like blood.

 

[Rose_coop]

Checked in her this morning, her legs and movements look normal, swelling seems to just be her backside.

 

[azygous]

Probably fat deposits. It can eventually affect her laying, but it's not currently a pathological issue.

I would check her perches as continuing abrasions can become infected and also cause permanent damage to the breast area. Pad the perch if necessary.

For the wounds, spray with Vetericyn twice a day or more often if you can to keep bacteria under control.