very sick chicken - is she eggbound?? or is it more??? PLEASE HELP ...

[new_chick]

hi everyone...

well for those of you that read my posts while i was waiting for my chicks to hatch and growing up - they are doing well!! all 5 - 3 hens 2 cocks....are FAB! and SO friendly!!

however - my problem lies with one of my 2 older hens/..

shes about 6 years old now! so an old lady - and hasnt laid an ages for AGES (as in at least 6 months i should think) - so i decided she must be too old....
however....this hen has had a couple of funny turns in the past and looked a bit peaky - red bit on her head went purple and very lethargic....then after some nursing...she picks up and is fine...
however....she has over the last few weeks - although looking fine in herself- started to look very wide and sqaut....and then monday she looked awful and didnt want to get up so i popped her in a washing basket full of hay and bought her into my house for the night....
when i checked her over - i picked her up and noticed she felt really swollen and heavy - and her abdomen seems rather hot and very swollen/fat.....
she hasnt wanted to get out of the basket since.... shes eating and drinking well but i popped her on the floor today whilst i changed her bedding and she didnt look like she could walk very well at all??? probably due to the swollen belly???
is this egg bound?? i have been told to give her a warm bath to try and help relax her...is this right???
any advice - input would be great.....

thanks!!!!!!!

 

[katrinag]

Warm baths help. Check her vent too. See is there is discharge.

 

[new_chick]

i will have to wash her before i can check her vent...as she's covered in poo...she has still been going to the toilet and eating and drinking...but not much else - but seems quite bright in her self.....will pop her in a bath in a minute...
thanks for the advice

 

[meriruka]

Does her belly feel firm or like it's filled with water?

 

[DuckLady]

If she was laying previous and stopped, she could be laying internally. Your description of the belly sounds like it.

 

[new_chick]

her belly feels like a waterballoon filled to bursting - its tight but does feel watery?? (i dont really know what im feeling for!)
i have bathed her and blow dried her - both of which she enjoyed!!
but no change - other than a cleaner chicken!! i had a look at her bottom and it looks sort of swollen around the area (not the actual duct itself) and there was clear fluid coming out when i looks - she does make the odd squeak/sigh/grunt when she moves around - but itsn't really moving around any more that she has to!....

 

[meriruka]

Here's what I had to do for my hen (drain the fluid). I hope this is helpful.....https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=122953