Sick Karen- possibly ascites?

[honeybear527]

I have a sick 1.5 yo golden laced wyondotte… she’s been off for a while and has had an issue with dirty vents since March. I’ve soaked her as needed but it’s never resolved. We had a neighbors pit attack our flock 2 months ago. The 3 other golden weaved Wyandotte’s didn't make it. This one lost a good bit of her tail feathers but was ok aside from that. However she still had the dirty vent issue. Today I went to the coop and she was walking with her tail down and was walking funny. I looked a bit further and it looks like she lost a bit of her feathers from her belly dragging. My question is, is could this be curable or is it most likely something that she will not survive. I enjoy the chickens but do not feel a vet trip will be in the cards. I just don’t want her to unnecessarily suffer. If we should put her down to ease the suffering…

 

[Hungry Chicken]

I'm sorry to hear about your hen. I had a hen with a similar issue who unfortunately passed recently. Has she laid an egg recently? If not how long has in been since she last laid? Try keeping her vent clean as possible to prevent flies from laying eggs there and fly strike. I think it could be perionitis/egg yolk perionitis/liver issues/reproductive issues. You could try draining her? It didn't work for us but it has helped some chickens. At this point I'm not sure if you should put her down or not, some more experienced people could tell you and give better advice. If you could post some pictures of her, that would be really helpful

 

[ChicNmom]

What is coming out of her vent? It's possible she's had a reproductive infection all this time and this is the end of it.

Does her belly feel like a water balloon middle to back? Or is it firmer and just swollen middle to front.

 

[honeybear527]

So the vent issues looked like poo stick on the feathers. I’ve been mostly worried about flystike so have been soaking and cleaning as much as I can ands keeping an eye on her. The tail down is what caught my attention today. This is new and so I gave a further look and with the walking funny noticed the feathers missing on her belly. This is all new since Thursday. She was walking fine on Thursday and had tail up so I didn’t really pay much attention then..

 

[ChicNmom]

Well, feel around and see what you find tomorrow as far whether she feels watery or firm and swollen.

Also if you haven't already done this, look her over really well and through her feathers for bites or bruising in case she did get an injury from the dogs besides losing her tail feathers.

Let us know what you find and hopefully someone will have some ideas

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a sick 1.5 yo golden laced wyondotte… she’s been off for a while and has had an issue with dirty vents since March. I’ve soaked her as needed but it’s never resolved. We had a neighbors pit attack our flock 2 months ago. The 3 other golden weaved Wyandotte’s didn't make it. This one lost a good bit of her tail feathers but was ok aside from that. However she still had the dirty vent issue. Today I went to the coop and she was walking with her tail down and was walking funny. I looked a bit further and it looks like she lost a bit of her feathers from her belly dragging. My question is, is could this be curable or is it most likely something that she will not survive. I enjoy the chickens but do not feel a vet trip will be in the cards. I just don’t want her to unnecessarily suffer. If we should put her down to ease the suffering…

So the vent issues looked like poo stick on the feathers. I’ve been mostly worried about flystike so have been soaking and cleaning as much as I can ands keeping an eye on her. The tail down is what caught my attention today. This is new and so I gave a further look and with the walking funny noticed the feathers missing on her belly. This is all new since Thursday. She was walking fine on Thursday and had tail up so I didn’t really pay much attention then..

Please post a photo of your hen, her vent and poop.

When was her last egg?

She's walking funny, I'd get some extra Calcium into her ASAP.
You can find Calcium Citrate+D3 at Walmart, CVS, etc. Pop 1 tablet into her beak now, then once daily for a week.