Please Help Marans Hen

[ladywolfe]

I got a cuckoo marans hen and her butt looks very swollen and red looking and no feathers and is squishy when poked at doesn't seem to be hurting she walks like shes lowriding and stands that way too.We don't know if shes injured or what, we just got her. She has laid a few eggs so we don't think shes egg bound.HELP please!!!

 

[Katy]

My first thought is that she's laying internally. How recently has she laid an egg?

 

[dlhunicorn]

when was the last time she laid an egg? Can you post a pic?
I would separate her to a dark quiet place after soaking her bum in some warm water ...monitor her carefully.

 

[ladywolfe]

She layed an egg maybe two or three days ago. I just gave her a soak in water and she fell asleep in it. Got her out and now she is asleep on her back on my couch hope thats not bad but i also checked for egg bound egg couldn't find anything not that i really know what i'm doing anyway. Her bottom is like a balloon and no feathers her breast bone is showing don't know how old she is but my guess would be maybe over a year. she seems to be skinny but she seems to be eating a little.any suggestions on what to do? dh says to put her down but if i can save i want to dpo that.

 

[Katy]

Laying on her back is not good for her!!

 

[ladywolfe]

I didn't know but she is back in her crate and just being quiet i won't put her on her back again i'm still new to chickens. my camera needs batteries but may be able to post some pics later.

 

[Katy]

One of my welsummer hens did what sounds like the same thing as yours last summer/early fall. She had no feathers on her rear and was red and very swollen. She went into her molt and so far this spring and summer she's been fine with no reoccurance. I thought for sure I'd lose her even tho she acted fine and ate and drank well.

 

[dlhunicorn]

It really is unwise to "feel around" .... I would repeat the warm bath and give her a crushed TUM (this is calcium gluconate susbstitute and I have read in a veterinary magazine to do this as an emergency substitute in suspected eggbound cases)...