Chicken with Swollen butt, Green Poop, Not Eating, Lethargic

[Kaiser Fertilizer]

Hello,
One of my hens has a hard swollen butt/ abdomen and seems to not have eaten much over the past few weeks. Every time I come home for the weekend It has green poop that smells very bad all over it's butt, and I've been cleaning it off. Since I've noticed it was swelling it seems that all other parts of its body have gotten thinner, likely because it hasn't been eating. I can feel it's sternum, it was one of the things I've been checking. It also has a droopy comb and it's been lethargic as well. I just don't know to do, it's obviously very sick.

I have some photos of how it has been standing, its comb, and swelling. I've tried giving it apple cider vinegar and gave it an Epsom salt bath. (The photos of the swelling are taking it after it's feathers were wet from the epsom salt bath a few weeks ago). None of that has seemed to do much, but they're just general treatments for multiple diseases I considered in my research.

I was thinking waterbelly, but from what it sounds like there isn't much you can do about that. And even then, I don't feel comfortable treating it if I'm not sure, because the treatment (draining it the swelling) seems pretty extreme. I was hoping someone here would be able to tell what's making it so sick considering these symptoms better than I could, or more firmly let me know it's water belly.

Before you ask, taking it to the vet probably won't be an option, but I am considering it. It'd just be a lot of money I don't have to spend. Unfortunately, euthanizing it is more likely that me actually getting it to the vet. Thank you for any guidance you have to offer.

 

[townchicks]

She does look like she has acites, aka water belly. That has multiple causes, most if not all that there is no real cure. I will give you the benefit of my experience with two hens that have swollen bellies, since I did take them to the vet. Both hens were not acting or looking sick, unlike your girl. Both hens had ultrasounds done. One is not laying, has fluid build-up, but otherwise looks good. Vet thinks she very likely has cancer. Not really much to do, she is on anti-inflammatory to keep her more comfortable, until she's not. The other hen had been laying, and suddenly stopped, but is still going to the nest box, and comb is still red. Ultrasound revealed internal laying. Again, not much to do there, unless your vet can and is willing to do spay surgery and you can afford it. Not cheap. , and risky. There are other things that can cause ascites, also, like heart problems. Hopefully, this info will help you make a decision that is right for you, and your hen. For those that are curious, my girl is scheduled for spay surgery later this week, because I can, and am that crazy. Most folks wouldn't, no judgement if you don't get your girl to the vet.