Large bald (plucked?) bulge beneath vent.

[Fetacheney]

I have a 22 week old Easter Egger hen, the largest of all my chickens and much larger than her fellow EE, who seems to be acting fine but has a large swollen bulge on her abdomen, about 2 inches bellow her vent.

Theres no overall significant redness, no swelling on the actual vent itself, or discharge. Some darkened, scabby areas and red splotches around feathers on the bulge. The swelling seems soft and she doesn't react at all to it being touched. The bulge is missing all its feathers. But they look like they may have been pulled out? Some are sort of scabby looking.

Her behavior seems normal, no waddling or squatting, no lethargy or breathing problems. Eating and drinking normally, normal looking poop. This hen is one of the ones who chooses to sleep on the much higher guinea roosts, and she has no problem getting up or down from them. Seems maybe kind of puffed up or frazzled looking, though. Most of my others have started laying this week, including one of the EEs, maybe her? I just noticed the bulge today.

We have a 8×12 coop with 10 chickens and 9 guineas who were all brooded together. They don't usually fight or bully eat other too much as they have lots of roosting options. Haven't noticed any feather plucking or pecking but obviously I dont watch them 24/7. Shes isolated from the rest now but idk what to do other than that.

 

[Eggcessive]

A enlarged rearend can be a sign of being overweight, ascites or water belly, internal laying, or a hernia. She definitely has been feather picked and injured. I would try either using something like Blukote or gentian violet to color the skin dark blue to hide the scabs and irritation, or an antipick product. Those can include pine tar ointment, Nustock cream, both available in horse products. There are others, such as plain vaseline or Triple Antibiotic Ointment, Bag Balm, or one of the various antipick products. Sometimes people reprt that just something sticky can keep hens from pecking. Make sure they have enough room in the coop and run. Feeding enough protein in a balanced chicken feed with 16-20% protein. Feather picking cannlead to cannibalism and death if not stopped.