RI Red very swollen walking funny

[NJCHICKMAN]

Hello,

I was hoping someone could give me some insight into what may be wrong. I have a rhode island red hen of unknown age. I got her a year ago at auction. Over the last week she lost feathers from her legs back to her vent. I also noticed that when she walks she points her toes inward. Upon closer examination, it also appears that she is super swollen in the bottom area where the feathers are gone. Huge compared to my other reds.

Could she just be old and have cancer or should I be medicating her? I would hate to do it but should she be culled?

Any help is appreciated,

Thanks

 

[Judy]

Sorry. Probably the most likely cause is that she is an internal layer, though cancer of course is a likely cause. I assume she is no longer laying.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/79443/tell-me-about-your-internal-layers/80_20#post_6235380

 

[NJCHICKMAN]

Not sure. I have not seen her in a box lately. I just saw that the limping is worse. I assume she will die? She eats. She also looks sick as her comb is bent over and she just looks down. I noticed that last week before I really saw the feathers and swelling. Just let her be and live out the rest of her life?

 

[Judy]

If it is internal laying, it is terminal, but of course we can't diagnose her for certain. How you handle the situation is a personal decision. I'd encourage you to look over that link, at least the particular post that is linked, and maybe a bit more of the thread.

 

[Eggcessive]

This would be a tough decision, one I've never had to make before. You can give them penicillin injections, or your vet may prescribe something better, but in the end she may need to be put out of her misery. I would try to keep her as comfortable as possible. Speckled Hen in the link above has posted quite a bit about her chickens dealing with internal laying/egg yolk peritonitis/ascites.