Round hind end????

[Eggcessive]

I would’t put her down just yet. I have had several hens who have had swollen lower bellies, even for a few years. Some causes can be ascites, internal laying, a hernia, egg yolk peritonitis, or salpingitis. She doesn’t sound like she has EYP yet if she is eating and drinking normally, and not lethargic or lying around. Some of those diseases above may end up causing EYP, but I have had a few big butt hens last a few years. The presence of the enlarged abdomen may “catch” any loose droppings, and they may need to be cleaned off now and then to not attract flies. I would do some reading about the different conditions and just watch her to see how she does. Some use antibiotics early on, such as Baytril to treat any infection if there is salpingitis. You can get it online here or check with a vet:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/baytril-enrofloxacin-sources.959119/

Here is some reading about potential causes:
http://www.regenbiocorps.com/index.php/poultry-diseases/17-disorders-of-reproductive-systems
http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/backyard-poultry/egg-yolk-peritonitis/

 

[bobbi-j]

I'll be honest with you, I'm not a "take a chicken to a vet" or give it antibiotics kind of chicken keeper. If she doesn't appear to be in pain or suffering, I'd let her be for a while and see how she's doing. I'm not sure how you came to the determination that she has EYP. Here is a list of symptoms I found for that:
Symptoms of egg yolk peritonitis include:

• loss of appetite/anorexia.
• weakness.
• depression.
• respiratory distress.
• lethargy.
• fluffed feathers.
• yolk-colored droppings.
• swollen vent and/or abdomen (the swelling feels spongy to the touch)

If she deteriorates, I would likely put her down. From what I've read, a hen that has EYP, or becomes egg bound or prolapses, it's possible for these things to happen again. I would put that hen down. In my opinion, that's kinder than keeping on trying to fix the problems. Why put your bird through all that? How old is your hen? If she's older (3 or more years), she could be experiencing reproductive tract issues. Again, I wouldn't let my hen keep suffering if I suspected she was.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I think she has egg yolk peritonitis.

How old is this girl?

EYP seems more likely than binding since binding is deadly fast. How is your weather?

No that you have her cleaned up, I wouldn't cull right away without verifying what the issue is including monitoring the crop over night. If she stopped up or slowed down a bit maybe she will start to recover.

ETA: please report what her droppings look like and what you feed including treats and supplements.

 

[aart]

I'm with @bobbi-j.

Ascites can be caused by various organ failures and/or diseases.
If they can't eat drink poop and move about 'normally' I euthanize.
Been thru a couple-few of these, first one I hoped for the best, was futile.

I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[Eggcessive]

Be sure, if you lose her one day, to do a necropsy on her body. That is a food way to learn, and to see what was going on in there. A state vet or poultry lab can also do a professional necropsy with tests on a freshly refigerated bidy if you ship it or take it in. This past year, I have lost a few of my older 5-7 year old hens. Several had ascites, one had a lash egg from salpingitis, one had cancer, and a couple had crop or gizzard impactions or sour crop, which sometimes may be related to reproductive disorders. We all like to share pictures here of our necropsies to learn from each other.

 

[Kiki]

Just in case...
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/diagnostic-testing-services

 

[Merrymouse]

@EggSighted4Life @bobbi-j @aart @Eggcessive and others
She seems ok but not great. I usually watch my chickens carefully every day for signs of illness but I was away for two weeks so not sure how long this has been going on. She is about 1 1/2 years old. The swelling feels soft and maybe liquidy. She is a large hen and her weight and body seem otherwise healthy. She does have some slight darkened tinge to just one part of her comb but she has had that for a long time. I don’t do vets for my chickens but I don’t let them suffer either. I will watch her closely tomorrow and try to see if she is eating and if the poo looks normal. I feed Purina layena crumbles. No scratch in this heat of summer but a few meal worms or scrap greens once in a while. The only thing that is different is while I was away I sent my son to get more feed and he misheard me when I said Purina and he bough Neutrena crumbles instead. But that was only given the last three days. I’m not sure if that could be the cause. I went out and bought Purina as soon as I got home.

 

[Merrymouse]

I do have a section of my coop closed off that I could put her in to monitor her better. I usually use this area for broody hens and baby chicks.

 

[bobbi-j]

I do have a section of my coop closed off that I could put her in to monitor her better. I usually use this area for broody hens and baby chicks.

That might give you a better idea of her food and water intake and output.

 

[Kiki]

Her belly may be full of liquid or egg matter from laying internally.
There really isn't much you can do for that but just watch her and see that she isn't suffering.