[ArosP]

I have had one poorly hen for a while, she has a very pooey bum, pale combs, and generally looking off colour. I wormed using pellets with wormer and gave her an Epsom salt bath. If I put my hand under her bum it feels round and hard, not skinny and bony like normal. She was still eating and dotting about so I was vaguely wondering what to do. Now I think another is going the same way, these hens are probably about 4 years old
Any ideas?

[princesslayer]

Could be egg bound, but I think you'd feel some heat? It's not catching though, so can't be right if another is the same...

[chrismahon]

Sounds like peritonitis, where the yolks detach from the ovary but miss the oviduct and pass into the abdomen. In small numbers they are harmlessly absorbed, but in larger numbers they can build up and even become infected. So a hard, warm abdomen would be felt. We lost all four of our Black Rocks to that.


You should take her to the vet- she can't be left to suffer ArosP.

[ArosP]

Thanks both of you , i will get organised and deal with it