Rhode Island Red with a very swollen butt, loss in appetite, and pale floppy comb.

[Clemmy]

Recently, my rir has not been looking that good. She is a middle aged hen who has recently stopped laying. She is lethargic and tired-looking around the coop; and I can tell that she has had a massive loss in her appetite ( I can tell by how her crop is completely empty). Her butt also seems very swollen and firm to the touch and poop is splattered around her vent. Earlier this summer, I noticed that she had a loss in her appetite, and a more floppy and pale comb (which she also has now) , but after that small incident it seemed that she had bounced back. A few weeks passed and now, some of these symptoms have come back. I've done some research, and a few possibilities of what is wrong could be Enteric Disease, Cloacitis, or possibly internal laying. The symptoms are all over the place and I do not exactly know what's going on. If anyone could possibly help me make a diagnosis or suggest possibilities or treatments on what this might be that would be great. ( I will try to send in pictures soon )

Thank you!

 

[coach723]

You mention that her butt/abdomen is swollen and that she recently stopped laying. Those along with the dirty tail feathers often means a reproductive problem. Those can vary but symptoms are often very similar. Internal laying, salpingitis, reproductive cancers are all possibilities. If that's the case then the prognosis is poor, I'm so sorry to say. Without a vet to do some testing then usually the definite answer is unfortunately had at necropsy. She may lose weight to the point of emaciation, but still have a swollen abdomen as things progress.

 

[azygous]

You're right that she seems to have no shortage of symptoms. In the one photo, from her wide legged stance, unless she had just shifted her weight to another leg, it appears she has ascites. My hunch is that your hen is suffering from a complete set of reproductive issues, perhaps including cancer.

By the time the symptoms reach such a level of seriousness, sadly there is usually not much that can be done to treat her.

 

[Eggcessive]

All good advice. Just looking at your picture, does this hen have a bowed out left leg? If so, she has a leg bone deformity called varus deformity. It doesn’t have anything to do with what she has going on now, but just wanted to ask. The picture below is varus deformity of the right leg, and it can occur in one or both legs. Valgus deformity is the opposite, where the legs are knock kneed.

 

[Eggcessive]

My hen beebees has a bald red butt. The other hens have been picking at it. Few tail feathers left. I noticed it when I gave her a bath. Otherwise covered in feathers. Very concerned because the area seems swollen. Anybody's help would be much appreciated ASAP

Here is where to start your own new thread for advice so that we don’t get confused with the OP:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/
Just click on “post new thread in the center of the page.”

 

[21hens-incharge]

First thing I would do is a bath and trim off the feathers.

Epson salt, warm water not hot and not cold. A good 20 minute soak and work the poop off those feathers.

I keep nitrile gloves on hand for just such a need. They fit snug and allow the hands to work without filling with water....unless punctured.

Any other symptoms?

 

[21hens-incharge]

We give her plenty of food and water at free access... could she be eating so little because of the reproductive Disease?

That is quite likely.

If you haven't separated her yet....please do so.
It will allow you to see how much it any she is eating.

I would try her with a wet mash. It is regular feed mixed with water to make an oatmeal consistency mush.
Boiled eggs chopped up as well as canned fish or canned cat food can give her a boost.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you want to get a weight on your chickens, an inexpensive kitchen scale from Walmart is around $15. I have a Mainstays brand that works very well, found in the kitchen gadgets aisle, and it works great for measuring ground meat and other foods. When I have a chicken not eating, I offer part of a scrambled egg, a little wet chicken feed, a bit of tuna, or Friskies canned cat food. More water added to the food will get more fluids into them. If they won’t eat, some can learn to tube feed, but I let them decide if they want to eat or not. Tube feeding is easy to learn if you are interested. Usually they stop eating for a reason. Check her crop to see if it is empty and flat, or if there is food in it, firm or puffy.

 

[hispoptart]

Thanks for the pics, I have a chicken with a floppy comb, and have had others also. They were all healthy and hers looks to be of good color. So not sure that should be much of a concern, but her bottom is quite messy. How have her poops been? Can you clean her up and maybe get a better pic of her bottom and vent area? How old is she? Has she been laying? Where are you located at? I'm just trying to think of questions the more experts will ask you so maybe you can answer them before they get here. I'm going to tag a few that might be able to help you better then I can.

@Eggcessive @coach723 @Wyorp Rock @azygous @21hens-incharge
Thanks in advance all

 

[azygous]

Loss of appetite can occur when an infection is sapping a body of energy. How do you feel when the flu virus attacks you?

Weight loss and poor appetite are symptoms of many different issues, both organic as well as psychological. When assessed alongside other symptoms and individual history, it's possible to arrive at a diagnosis.

The loss of appetite in itself won't tell us much, though.