Puffy, pulsating vent. Is she sick?

[eastbaychicks]

I have a bird that has a puffy vent and it is pulsating. She seems to have diarrhea as well but I'm not certain. Her face feels a little hot, but I'm not sure. I can get pictures in the morning. I have a bad feeling about this.

 

[cw]

if you have any doubt SEPERATE her from the rest of the flock, there is some threads of others who have just lost half there flock due to sickness, i was really lucky and seperated my sick roo in time

 

[eastbaychicks]

Now or in the morning?

 

[cw]

i would as soon as possible, take no chances

 

[eastbaychicks]

Ok... now.

 

[eastbaychicks]

I'm so scared... and sad!

 

[cw]

Quote:
there is no need to be scared or sad,
its better to seperate a fine chicken then leave one thats sick and you lose your flock
also what is the hen doin?
whats her diet and age?
is she layin?
comb color?
is she drinking?
you say her face is hot does it look puffy as well?

 

[eastbaychicks]

I let the birds free range in my yard, so she gets a lot of bugs. I noticed she was keeping away from the rest of the flock yesterday and then again today (but I was really busy all day long). I picked her up, which was way too easy for her, and she wasn't happy, but she was acting more like she was in pain.

She is about 6 months old, and I believe she has been laying for about two weeks. I did find an egg with out a shell on the ground this morning, and thought it was weird. I figured some animal had drug an open egg around or something since they are obviously laying in the yard. They do not like to lay in the coop.

I feed them Kruse's laying crumble, they had a bag of spinach, 4 overgrown stalks from radishes in my garden I forgot about, broccoli, they ignored, and a mixture of yogurt and cottage cheese with black sunflower seeds.

The DH is putting her in her own bed. Thankfully we have a temporary run we built in the summer, and we haven't opened it up to the coop yet. She'll have to sleep alone. I hope it's not too cold, but since she's a Cochin I'm sure she'll be fine. It's about 37 tonight here. Not too bad right.

Um what else???? I'll take some pictures in the morning. Thanks for the help. My poor DH feels so bad putting her on her own. But I urged him on your recommendation that it is for the best. Thanks!

 

[eastbaychicks]

Quote:
there is no need to be scared or sad,
its better to seperate a fine chicken then leave one thats sick and you lose your flock
also what is the hen doin?
whats her diet and age?
is she layin?
comb color?
is she drinking?
you say her face is hot does it look puffy as well?

Sorry I forgot some...

Her comb is red
Yes, she is drinking
I don't know if she's laying I haven't seen her do it, but her vent looks like she is, and I've seen her line up for the box.
Her face wasn't puffy.

 

[cw]

it kinda sounds like she may be passing her first egg with a shell, they seem to have a hard time passing that first egg (unless you are 100% she has laid a shelled egg)
what color is her comb? you talk like they just started layin an its fairly common for em to have a little trouble at first
no need to get eggcited (

) but i think she is gonna be just fine