The Poultry Keeper

rhodemaryhenny · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

hello,
this year it seems my three rhode island girls came into lay later than last year, except one of them has not done so. I believe she laid once earlier in the season but since then has not done so.
She now has a large soft bulge that has been steadily growing around her rear, at first i considered it to be a poo problem so washed her vent with warm water and oiled her a little with soft soap, also gave her oil by mouth to try and give her some movement, after a few days of this her poos returned to a more normal quantity and looked more normal as well. the bulge though has not gone away and even may have increased a little, I now think this is more likely to be an egg problem, she is general disinterested, and spends allot of time sat on the floor as if resting the weight of the bulge, she also is now walking oddly as if her legs are walking around this bulge. handling her has also become more difficult without causing her distress.
Unfortunately i feel i let her situation get worse unchecked due to what seemed like bigger problems with another bird whose crop became vastly enlarged.
So I'm here now asking for help regarding Mary, she is a four year old Rhode island, who i would much like to keep with me as long as possibly.
Help please
I posted similar on another forum a few weeks ago but got no response and now cannot find the site

CP · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:21 pm Post subject:

We've had a similar query before. I found the thread here -
http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4484&highlight=hen+bum
Which also has a link from Lisa, as her hen Ninja had the same thing as well.

See if it sounds like your hen's problem.

rhodemaryhenny · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

Thanks for posting the link (i think), The descriptions describe Mary all to well unfortunately. I'm of the stance that it is better to know and expect the worst for her ,than not know and hope for the best, the descriptions fitted her to a tee so it does not seem worth stressing her with the vet, Ill be making her as comfortable as possible, and when she can no longer do her chickeney things do the right thing. the way she is and judging from ninjas sad progression i don't expect her to be with us by the end of this month, on the other hand if she still is and has not become severely worsened, i may reconsider the vets in the hope of it being a different problem. thankyou for your quick response.
If anyone else has further ideas or recommendations please still post, but as i said ninjas description is somewhat too accurate.

Mel · Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 150 Location: Gosport, Hampshire

How is your chicken doing now? Do keep us posted