lethargic, purple comb, very sick chicken

[chickenluver10]

she has this large lump around her vent and i had a chicken who had a similar lump a couple years ago and it died. she just lies down, and kind of twitches constantly. i have read up on swollen bottoms and there are just SO many possibilities, but there is no sign of an egg anywhere. she used to be a great layer, and mostly did eggs so huge even with a jumbo carton you can't close the lid. could this have done some internal damage? she may be in great pain but it is hard to tell as she does not react to much. she does poop from time to time, which might be a good or bad sign, i don't know. i have heard of chickens laying eggs that are too large and they kindof squash their innards. maybe that's what is going on with her, and as i said, I cannot feel any eggs. so picture her lying on her side, and where under her vent is usually fluffy and healthy, it is bald and sticking out, and looks almost like a pink egg but is squishy.

 

[Trish1974]

Is the lump hard, or is it squishy like fluid? When was the last time she laid an egg? Her symptoms sound like internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis. What has her poops look like?
ETA: I read somewhere those extra large eggs could cause internal damage over time, which I could see leading to internal laying.

 

[chickenluver10]

it is kind off squishy. i have three white leghorns, two of which are healthy, and i usually got two white leghorn eggs per day

 

[chickenluver10]

so it might have been my other two laying for the last month. she really went dowhill in the last couple of days.

 

[Eggcessive]

Any enlarged area below the vent can be one of several possibilities. There can be fluid in the abdomen due to ascites which may look tight. A hernia, where the intestines are bulging out in a sac. Or it could be stretched out full of egg matter from internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis. Here is some info to read:
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/egg-peritonitis
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/laying-issues-internal-layers-and-peritonitis/
http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/backyard-poultry/egg-yolk-peritonitis/

 

[Smuvers Farm]

We really need pics sweetie.

 

[Trish1974]

Have you searched symptoms of internal laying? If you are certain it is fluid (ascites, or water belly as they call it in chickens) you can drain the fluid with a needle and syringe (search how here on this site or youtube), but that would only be buying her time and making her more comfortable. If it is internal laying or EYP it sounds like it may be too advanced to save her. But again, this is what it sounds like to me as I have had a similar situation, I am not saying this is a definite diagnosis!

 

[chickenluver10]

could be. her tail is down but she did not do the "penguin posture" thing. i will send pictures soon.

 

[chickenluver10]

 

[chickenluver10]