My hens butt/vent area is super hard - is she sick?? Photos Included

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Does her crop empty overnight?

I checked her crop this morning and it felt flat and normal. Its more her bellow-the-vent area that is large and inflamed (still). She is eating food like normal.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

With her being hunched up like she is, I'd consider giving her 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 for 3-5days to see if she expels any lash material or egg.

She seems more lively this morning. She is still enlarged, but she isn't so hunched. I will keep an eye on her today and update if I see her getting lethargic again.

 

[Eggcessive]

If she passes any droppings that you can catch with a picture, you may post those. I have had a few hens like this, and when they died, I did a necropsy on each one which helped me know what was wrong. We appreciate any pictures of chicken necropsies here, and may be able to help with opinions. This vet necropsy video below is way too involved for most of us, but it can be helpful in identifying the abdominal organs to photograph them for a necropsy.