Please help! Raw, swollen butt hen

[FergusonCluckCluckFarm]

So I'm currently fighting lice, I began treating everyone a few days ago and discovered some had really bad lice nits below their vents. I discovered one of my girls is extremely raw and swelled. It feels like a water balloon. I'm not sure if it's because of the lice problem she had orr? I checked the vent and she isn't egg bound but when I checked her, it felt like I stuck my finger into a camp fire. I read in an old post on here that someone said maybe ascities, so I found a larger gauge needle and attempted to draw out any fluid and got nothing back. Any ideas on what's going on and what you would do? I don't want to cull because she's such a good girl but will if I need to. I can't stand to see my girls suffer. I have uploaded pictures. Any advice is appreciated. I've never had to deal with this issue before so I'm clueless.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So I'm currently fighting lice, I began treating everyone a few days ago and discovered some had really bad lice nits below their vents. I discovered one of my girls is extremely raw and swelled. It feels like a water balloon. I'm not sure if it's because of the lice problem she had orr? I checked the vent and she isn't egg bound but when I checked her, it felt like I stuck my finger into a camp fire. I read in an old post on here that someone said maybe ascities, so I found a larger gauge needle and attempted to draw out any fluid and got nothing back. Any ideas on what's going on and what you would do? I don't want to cull because she's such a good girl but will if I need to. I can't stand to see my girls suffer. I have uploaded pictures. Any advice is appreciated. I've never had to deal with this issue before so I'm clueless.

Poor girl

My first thought of looking at the swelling is Ascites (fluid) which is usually a symptom of an underlying condition. Sadly, a lot of times the cause (or name) of a particular reproductive disorder is not known until then hen has passed and a necropsy is performed, then you may be able to tell whether it is Internal Laying, Salpingitis, Egg Yolk Peritonitis, cancer, etc.
You got no fluid when you tried to drain? So it's probably more solid, like egg matter in there, but that's just a guess on my part.

A hen's body temperature is normally 105-107F but you mention it was like a camp fire, I would again hazard a guess that she has infection. Sometimes an antibiotic may help extend life and give them some relief, it really depends on the cause. My first choice would be to give Baytril (she's not laying eggs, but if she does, throw those away for a few weeks), second choice would be Amoxicillin. Both can be ordered online.

I would watch that the others are not picking at her bottom. Treat the lice (what are you using?) and see that she's drinking well and eating.

https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10
https://www.jefferspet.com/products/amoxicillin-250mg-jar100-fish-mox

 

[FergusonCluckCluckFarm]

Poor girl

My first thought of looking at the swelling is Ascites (fluid) which is usually a symptom of an underlying condition. Sadly, a lot of times the cause (or name) of a particular reproductive disorder is not known until then hen has passed and a necropsy is performed, then you may be able to tell whether it is Internal Laying, Salpingitis, Egg Yolk Peritonitis, cancer, etc.
You got no fluid when you tried to drain? So it's probably more solid, like egg matter in there, but that's just a guess on my part.

A hen's body temperature is normally 105-107F but you mention it was like a camp fire, I would again hazard a guess that she has infection. Sometimes an antibiotic may help extend life and give them some relief, it really depends on the cause. My first choice would be to give Baytril (she's not laying eggs, but if she does, throw those away for a few weeks), second choice would be Amoxicillin. Both can be ordered online.

I would watch that the others are not picking at her bottom. Treat the lice (what are you using?) and see that she's drinking well and eating.

Thank you so much for answering! I have an animal thermometer , I'll take her temp here shortly after this monsoon we're having quits. I just watched that video, I'll try the draining again, maybe I went too deep. I'll def get some baytril so thank you for that link. I put her in a little extra coop I have ''chicken hospital'' and when I let her out this morning it wasn't as red. How would you know other wise if it's an egg laying problem? Would u just know if she passed and I opened her up to tell? She's not doing that ''penguin'' walk like she's egg bound.

For the lice, I soaked her butt down with cowboy magic I have for the horses and picked the egg clusters off, then I dusted her real good with some poultry dust that pertains permethrin.

 

[FergusonCluckCluckFarm]

So update. She did lay a perfect cream egg today. Her butt is less red than it was. I tried to drain fluid again, I injected the needle in three different spots and could not get anything to come out. ‍. This has me stumped

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you so much for answering! I have an animal thermometer , I'll take her temp here shortly after this monsoon we're having quits. I just watched that video, I'll try the draining again, maybe I went too deep. I'll def get some baytril so thank you for that link. I put her in a little extra coop I have ''chicken hospital'' and when I let her out this morning it wasn't as red. How would you know other wise if it's an egg laying problem? Would u just know if she passed and I opened her up to tell? She's not doing that ''penguin'' walk like she's egg bound.

For the lice, I soaked her butt down with cowboy magic I have for the horses and picked the egg clusters off, then I dusted her real good with some poultry dust that pertains permethrin.

It's good that she laid an egg. She may just be too fatty, but normally if a hen has a bottom like that she has something in the abdomen. Since you haven't drawn anything in 2 attempts, then whatever is going on there is not fluid.

I would just keep watch on her. With mine, if they are eating/drinking, interacting with the flock, etc. then I pretty much leave them be. Once they start going down hill, then I offer supportive care. When the time comes I put them out of their misery.

Yes, the only way you will know what's going on the in the abdomen is to open that up if you happen to lose her. Quite a few of us do that, it helps us learn, we also take photos and post them so others can see, make suggestions, observations, etc.

 

[FergusonCluckCluckFarm]

It's good that she laid an egg. She may just be too fatty, but normally if a hen has a bottom like that she has something in the abdomen. Since you haven't drawn anything in 2 attempts, then whatever is going on there is not fluid.

I would just keep watch on her. With mine, if they are eating/drinking, interacting with the flock, etc. then I pretty much leave them be. Once they start going down hill, then I offer supportive care. When the time comes I put them out of their misery.

Yes, the only way you will know what's going on the in the abdomen is to open that up if you happen to lose her. Quite a few of us do that, it helps us learn, we also take photos and post them so others can see, make suggestions, observations, etc.

I appreciate so much your thoughts on this. I worry about my girls. I'll keep an eye on her.