Possibly An Internal Layer *GRAPHIC PICS*

[Mimi13]

I do agree with @azygous photos or video of her as she is now and let us see her. It would also give you a reference to look back at for comparison if you decide to give her more time.

If you normally dispatch by cutting the jugular, then do that. I don't see where blood needs to stay in the body with a home necropsy.

Thank you. I will be up early tomorrow taking pictures and videoing my larger than life beauty hen.

 

[Mimi13]

Here's what I suggest you do so we can better help you assess the state of Butter's health. Take a few photos of her going about her business. Get a closeup of her eyes and comb as she is loafing. If you have the means, a video of her walking would be very informative. Get a shot of her from behind and coming toward you.

I hope these pictures and videos will help y’all in guiding me.

Here are a couple of head shots (she has dried mash on her beak),
frontal and rear shots, along with a poop shot.

Her eyes and nares appear clear. I’ve never noticed anything out of the ordinary. She is a carrier of Fowl Pox. Her comb and wattles are a nice red. Feathers are glossy.

This butt, though! It’s huge! She comes by it honestly, I suppose, and takes after me. Bless her heart.

This shot from the droppings board is a bit disturbing. Her poop is the big, loose blob with the albumen looking mess to the side.

This video shows Butter from the front. She is the darkest of the BO and is the one running out in front of the others.

Here she is from behind. She does have a waddle to her.

And this last video is confusing to me. My intention was to capture her breathing, however, it captures her shaking her head. She seemed puzzled with my phone right in her face, but that doesn’t account for the head shaking. She has shaken her head on occasion, but not to this extent.

Thanks to everyone viewing this and for your responses.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Such a sweetie! I like Butter

To be perfectly honest, what I see, she is not ready at all to be put down. Yes, she is waddling some, but she's alert, bright, moving, you report she eats/drinks o.k.
Now, if she is not a pet and production is your goal and she's not producing, culling is the practical thing to do. Each of us have our own "style".

IF she were mine, I would just monitor her daily. She seems delightful to me and I would let her continue on until there is a marked decline - but then again, my keeping may be different from yours.
I'm sure the others will chime in with their thoughts.

Thank you so much for taking the time for video and photos.

 

[azygous]

Mimi, thanks for taking the time to video and photograph Butters. This gives us a very good picture of the state of her health. My opinion is Butters has a long while before she's ready to have her life end. I see a hen in pretty good health.

As for the swollen butt, she's an Orpington and they're noted for fat fluffy butts. It's why everyone loves them. A hen with a swollen butt due to reproductive infection, by the time it's at a crucial stage, usually show a lot of bare skin.

As for the waddle, she runs with a waddle that makes me laugh whenever I see my hens come running to get a treat I'm holding. My BO and a Speckled Sussex both run like that.

The poop bears watching, but I wouldn't do anything about it at present.

I'm voting to grant Butters a stay of execution.

 

[coach723]

I agree with both @azygous and @Wyorp Rock, I also would give her more time. She seems pretty happy right now. There may be a bit of wide legged stance and waddle, but it's very hard to tell, each one moves in their own way. If it is indeed a reproductive issue then over time that will likely become more obvious. She's behaving like a regular chicken, so I would personally not cull now. If she goes off food and water, slows way down, or exhibits any other signs of really not feeling well, then you can reassess. She's a lovely hen!

 

[rebrascora]

I agree entirely. She is a long way off making "that" decision and clearly has a good quality of life. You are right that she is not "hanging low" like you would expect to see with ascites but there is some waddling and her comb being so bright and red tells you that she is most likely ovulating but if she is not producing eggs then in my opinion that pretty well confirms that she is laying internally or perhaps has salpingitis. Hormonal implants might be worth considering at this stage if she is a pet. That would stop ovulation and therefore prevent the problem deteriorating (if we are correct that it is internal laying). It works out at between $100-150 a time if that was something you could afford. They need to be replaced every 3-6 months, but one now might tide her over until the autumn when ovulation naturally declines.
Once her condition deteriorates her quality of life is not worth the cost of the implants, so my view would be that now is the time to go for that if you can spare the cash but don't feel under any pressure to do so as I can assure you that my purse does not run to vet's bills for chickens, I'm just wanting to give you options.
She certainly is a sweetheart! Not sure about the head shaking. It doesn't look like crop adjustment but that is something to look out for as crop issues can result from reproductive problems. Head shaking combined with respiratory distress or laboured breathing might indicate a respiratory disease, but internal masses will also impact on her breathing due to constriction of her rear air sacs, so it could be one or both or just a nervous tick with you pointing a camera in her face..... maybe trying to decide which is her best side .

 

[Mimi13]

Thank you all, @Wyorp Rock, @azygous, @coach723, and @rebrascora. I am thankful for y’all’s responses.

I am glad to know Butter has earned a reprieve. That makes me feel much better. She will live to see another day and eat another worm.

I will keep a close eye on her abdomen, poop and head shaking.

I have been fortunate enough to have invested quite a bit of money on chickens as a whole, but, unfortunately, I cannot extend that offer to individual birds. My birds are not show birds, by any stretch. They are pets, but weirdly enough, pets that provide eggs and meat as I see fit. Some will be granted the extension of a full, complete and happy life, while others will fulfill their purpose feeding my family. I am grateful for them all.

And I’m grateful for all of you, who have helped me through a questionable time.

 

[rebrascora]

If that is your situation and her final purpose would be to feed your family then that is better done now whilst she is in good health than leaving it until she develops an infection (EYP) or starts to lose body condition (breast meat). Apologies if I misunderstood your situation and my suggestion is not relevant in her case. I eat surplus cockerels but my hens have a retirement plan, so there is no judgement either way. I certainly do not want to be the one to hasten her end, but from your last post it seemed a logical suggestion.

 

[Mimi13]

If that is your situation and her final purpose would be to feed your family then that is better done now whilst she is in good health than leaving it until she develops an infection (EYP) or starts to lose body condition (breast meat). Apologies if I misunderstood your situation and my suggestion is not relevant in her case. I eat surplus cockerels but my hens have a retirement plan, so there is no judgement either way. I certainly do not want to be the one to hasten her end, but from your last post it seemed a logical suggestion.

I’m sorry, I may have been somewhat vague, or maybe just confusing.

In no way do I mean this to sound omnipotent, so please don’t take it that way, but the birds that I let live until they die of natural causes will not be eaten. As will a few others I just had to have that are not meat quality birds. I do process the excess cockerels and will begin processing the DP hens this fall. Butter just happens to be one of my original 4 that I would rather hang onto. Those four have a special place in my heart.

 

[rebrascora]

I entirely understand that.