Lethargic hen, large red larvae in poop? -- UPDATE, was egg-bound.

[Three Havens]

Hey, guys, sorry for not introducing myself first, I'm a little concerned for one of my hens. I noticed she was crouching outsdie with that look on her face that told me I'd better go check her out. She is very uncomfortable, doesn't want to move around. When she hopped away from me, she left behind a messy bit of poop, with this large (think top joint of the thumb), red larvae looking thing in it! I'm concerned for her especially because we lost a hen a few days ago, and we don't know why. She was fine in the night, dead by the morning.

Are there any ideas of what this could be? If it is helpful, these are older hens, sort of "winding down", but I do want them to have a good life and help them if possible.

 

[Three Havens]

An update ... we discovered she was egg-bound. She was suffering, and there was nothing we could do for her, she was too far gone.

Is there a way we can prevent this, or is it just something that older hens get? We give them oister shells, good layer pellets, fresh water daily ... they do get dewormed, and they are rotated between a smaller pasture, and their grazing pen.

After I read more (on here) I think this is also what took our other hen. She was heavy, probably from carrying impacted eggs. Same symptoms, bright comb, fine in the morning, suffering by the night time.