Not sure if it's an injury

[JJBoner]

Well.... Yesterday I was given 6 hens. All seem to be pretty healthy but have stopped laying according to the old keeper. I'm almost positive it's a poor diet and the fact they have a one year old high energy Sheppard that wants to eat them.... I wouldn't wanna lay either..... First thing I noticed was one of them walking almost like a duck. Her belly is hard as a rock but she is still eating and drinking no problem and has normal poo. At first I thought she was egg bound but now I think it might be an old injury to her leg making her walk funny. Any idea's on how to differentiate between the 2 better. Thank you sooooo much.

 

[aart]

Her belly is hard as a rock

Is belly swollen?
Compare to the other birds.
Do you know how old they are?

 

[JJBoner]

I was told about 3yrs old. Yes it's swollen and she acts like it hurts her to pick her up at all.

 

[aart]

I was told about 3yrs old. Yes it's swollen and she acts like it hurts her to pick her up at all.

Surprised she's still pooping well.
Swollen and hard as a rock can be a tumor or internal laying or....?
Usually it hinders the intestines.

When I have a bird acting 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[JJBoner]

Her belly is very swollen and hard. I haven't seen any signs of parasites and she eats anything I give her. I have her inside my house with one of her flock members. I've only seen her lay down once since she got here on Saturday.