- Oct 26, 2007
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- 9
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I'm pretty familiar with a couple hen problems, but I'm not sure about this one. I have a 10 and 1/2 year old Black Australorp hen. She's a sweetheart. But about a year ago, I found maggots on her vent. I cleaned them out and gave her an antibiotic. She improved immediately. then, several months after that, her back side was red again with small soft lumps around it. I gave her an antibiotic again (Baytril). She improved.
Now, she's acting normal except she's sort of walking like a little kid with a full diaper. I checked her backside this morning, and her entire lower abdomen is rock hard.......like there's masses in there. I believe she may have passed a funky egg a few days ago......like a smallish egg, but very leathery. I'm not totally sure it was her though. She hasn't laid eggs for about a year.
I've heard in the past that when chickens get infections, they can be really hard like this.
I don't really want to open her up a little until I'm positive its something like an abscess. Her lower abdomen doesn't feel like fluid at all......its just all really, really hard. She is eating normally......although she has always pooped small stuff. Maybe she has had a slow growing tumor?
Since she is so old, I really don't want to put her through alot. If it is an infection.........would antibiotics reach it, if its so hard already?
Thanks for your help.
Now, she's acting normal except she's sort of walking like a little kid with a full diaper. I checked her backside this morning, and her entire lower abdomen is rock hard.......like there's masses in there. I believe she may have passed a funky egg a few days ago......like a smallish egg, but very leathery. I'm not totally sure it was her though. She hasn't laid eggs for about a year.
I've heard in the past that when chickens get infections, they can be really hard like this.
I don't really want to open her up a little until I'm positive its something like an abscess. Her lower abdomen doesn't feel like fluid at all......its just all really, really hard. She is eating normally......although she has always pooped small stuff. Maybe she has had a slow growing tumor?
Since she is so old, I really don't want to put her through alot. If it is an infection.........would antibiotics reach it, if its so hard already?
Thanks for your help.