One Hen has bigger bottom than others...

[The Chick Addict]

Hi! I have noticed that one of my hens, Theodora has a bottom that is much bigger than my other hen's. I've felt it, its in between hard and squishy, more like soft. She will sometimes act a bit lethargic but I haven't noticed her acting like that lately. I want to know what could be ailing her before it becomes something more serious.

 

[Tookie]

How old is she? Is she currently laying? Does she waddle at all when walking or running?

 

[The Chick Addict]

How old is she? Is she currently laying? Does she waddle at all when walking or running?

Thanks for responding! She is a year and 4 months and yes, she is laying. It sometimes look like she waddles, but not really. Yeah, she doesn't really waddle. Any ideas?

 

[Tookie]

Thanks for responding! She is a year and 4 months and yes, she is laying. It sometimes look like she waddles, but not really. Yeah, she doesn't really waddle. Any ideas?

First thing I think of for bloated abdomens is ascites, and it's a symptom of something else going on, such as organ failure or reproductive issues.

Does she ever seem to be gasping? Is her comb ever purple-ish?

 

[The Chick Addict]

First thing I think of for bloated abdomens is ascites, and it's a symptom of something else going on, such as organ failure or reproductive issues.

Does she ever seem to be gasping? Is her comb ever purple-ish?

No, she acts fine and so is her comb.

 

[Eggcessive]

Maybe she is just a heavy girl? You can examine your other hens when they go on the roost at night, be if she isn’t having any problems, she probably is fine. Hens can develop enlarged abdomens from ascites fluid from liver disease, cancer, or internal laying, but some hens can be a little overweight. What do you feed them?

 

[The Chick Addict]

Maybe she is just a heavy girl? You can examine your other hens when they go on the roost at night, be if she isn’t having any problems, she probably is fine. Hens can develop enlarged abdomens from ascites fluid from liver disease, cancer, or internal laying, but some hens can be a little overweight. What do you feed them?

Purina Layena Pellets. She is pretty heavy, heavier than the other girls. She doesn't seem to have any problems with getting on the roost...

 

[The Chick Addict]

Found a cracked egg in one of the nesting boxes with a weird red sack protruding from it, which I believe was a lash egg? I took out the egg and cracked the rest of it and found a beautiful orange yolk inside. I then opened the sack and found bloody yolk inside of it. Also, last night, I found several drops of blood with no poop on the poop trays underneath the roost. It looked like it was underneath the Reds (RIRs and NHRs). Do you think this was her? Thanks you!

 

[Tookie]

Found a cracked egg in one of the nesting boxes with a weird red sack protruding from it, which I believe was a lash egg? I took out the egg and cracked the rest of it and found a beautiful orange yolk inside. I then opened the sack and found bloody yolk inside of it. Also, last night, I found several drops of blood with no poop on the poop trays underneath the roost. It looked like it was underneath the Reds (RIRs and NHRs). Do you think this was her? Thanks you!

Did you happen to get a picture of the egg and the sack thing?

 

[The Chick Addict]

Did you happen to get a picture of the egg and the sack thing?

No I didn't unfortunately.