Martha's Belly looks like a balloon

[kudzu vine]

One of my hens has been sickly. Think she's egg bound but need opinion. Her belly is huge to the point she can barely walk. I've had her separate for about 3 weeks. Seems to get a little smaller and then so big she can't walk. Egg bound? What can I do? She is older and is a BR...Thanks...Janet

 

[Judy]

I'm sorry but it sounds a lot like she's an internal layer, or another serious problem like something with her liver or heart. Probably a huge belly is full of fluid, or possibly tumor.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/362422/drained-a-hens-abdomen-rest-in-peace-olivia-11-5-10

 

[kudzu vine]

Martha did not make it. At first I thought she hurt her leg or hip because she favored one leg and it would quiver with each step. Then her belly became very bloated. After a few weeks keeping her apart from others and seeming to get better, when I picked her up to put her in house, maggots were in and below her vent. Never a sign of external injury. Her sister died the same way several months ago. Weird and have no idea what happened, but served her purpose well.

 

[speckledhen]

She was NOT egg bound. She was full of infection, fluids and egg gunk, a huge drain on her system. She could not dustbathe, hence, probably runny poop collected on her bum and flies laid eggs in it and maggots hatched. It will probably happen again if you have lots of the most common breeds the hatcheries sell.

These threads may be helpful to you. One Judy posted for you above that addresses this.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=362422

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=195347

 

[kudzu vine]

she was a BR. I kept her behind clean. Only weird thing was her leg would quiver when she walked. I wondered if she had a hip fracture that I couldn't feel and infection set up inside. Anyway, thanks for reply. I got her about 2 years ago and think she was probably up in years at that time. Only have had this problem out of 2 BRs. Guess I really will never know.