sick chickens?

Hi,
I have a couple of chickens in my flock of a dozen, with swollen abdomens
and I would like some help to care for them. One developed this a few weeks
back and seemed to lose feathers from under there as well. It looks like her
undertail feathers are all fluffed out but I think this is due to the
swelling. She is also unable to jump up as easily to her perch, but she
manages since I added a rung or two for her. Her droppings are smallish, but
healthy looking. I bathed her in warm water thinking she may have been egg
bound, but I don't think she is egg bound actually. After the bathing she
improved a lot but still has the enlarged abdomen. She eats fine seemingly,
a mix of layer pellets, mixed grain poultry mash, leftovers and scraps and
some free ranging. I got her as a commercial cross breed chick about four
years ago. Sometimes I look at her and she seems fine and other times she
seems like a tired old lady...

The other one has in the last few days developed the swollen abdomen and
also has a dirty tail from diarreah, a little greenish looking. Her abdomen
seems reddish too, where the feathers are missing. I wouldn't say either
chicken is actually lethargic but they are not as sprightly as the others.
Anyway I would appreciate any help anyone can provide, and I apologise if I
am covering old ground in the group, I have only just discovered it.
Best wishes
SyrianPrince
Victoria Australia


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