Green poopy bum. Sick?

One of my girls has a rather green poopy bum and is acting unwell. She hunkers down in the corner. I can pick her up and she walks back to the corner and hunkers down. Historically, from the time I discover them looking off to the time they pass away, only about 2-3 days pass. I haven't found the vets to be helpful and am reaching out to my Backyard Chicken family for help.

Get her cleaned up and isolate her in a warm, quiet area.
How old is she?
Have you observed her eating and drinking?
What type chicken feed do you feed and what type of treats?
Green poo can be an indication of not getting enough food or some type of other illness.
Any other symptoms you can think of.

This may be a long shot, but I have to ask....is she acting broody? While the green can be from feed, grass, or illness, it also looks very similar to broody poo. Her behavior also sounds like she is brooding in a corner. Some hens will poo in their nesting spot, and it will coat on their behind. Broody poo is enormous, sticky, smelly, and often has a green tint to it. The hen usually has one very large bowl movement a day, and those that are obsessed with the nest won't even get up to relieve, which is why it coats their behind.

A brooding hen can become fixated on a spot even without eggs under them, puffed, and grumpy at anyone or any thing that comes around them. They will sit fixed and staring into space like a trance. When you pick them up they will rouse, but want to immediately return to that spot they've chosen for brooding...which is why I ask since many sick birds will "hunker down" wherever they are placed as they don't feel well while a brooding hen will almost always return to her brooding spot.

I've had hens go broody at all times of the year. I've hatched numerous chicks under a broody hen in the dead of winter.

However, if she looks sick...hunkering because she is weak....then obviously this would be a sign of her illness.

LofMc

Lady of McCamley said:

This may be a long shot, but I have to ask....is she acting broody? While the green can be from feed, grass, or illness, it also looks very similar to broody poo. Her behavior also sounds like she is brooding in a corner. Some hens will poo in their nesting spot, and it will coat on their behind. A brooding hen will be fixated on a particular spot, many without eggs under them, puffed, and grumpy at anyone or any thing that comes around them. They will sit fixed and staring into space like a trance. When you pick them up they will rouse, but want to immediately return to that spot they've chosen for brooding...which is why I ask since many sick birds will "hunker down" wherever they are placed as they don't feel well while a brooding hen will return to her brooding spot.

I've had hens go broody at all times of the year. I've hatched numerous chicks under a broody hen in the dead of winter.

However, if she looks sick...then obviously this would be a sign of her illness.

LofMc

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I haven't had experience with a broody yet, (have lots to learn) so I will have to remember this one. It didn't dawn on me that she was returning back to a corner, so hopefully broody will be the answer.
Was hoping OP would tell us what this girl ate, so "maybe" that would explain the green poo. I was thinking maybe some spinach, kale etc.?

Wyorp Rock said:

I haven't had experience with a broody yet, (have lots to learn) so I will have to remember this one. It didn't dawn on me that she was returning back to a corner, so hopefully broody will be the answer.
Was hoping OP would tell us what this girl ate, so "maybe" that would explain the green poo. I was thinking maybe some spinach, kale etc.?

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Yes...even grass clippings can turn the poo green. I'll post a poo chart below for the OP to assess.

Hopefully the returning to the same corner is broodiness and not illness.

LofMc

For OP:

A very useful "poo chart"

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive.html

LofMc

Thanks for the replies so far. I haven't fed anything extra lately. Just chicken feed from the store. Pellets and crumle. I highly doubt she is broody. I have had broody hends and she isn't remotely disgruntled when I move her like a broody hen would be. In contrast, she is quite compliant which is out of character and causes me to lean towards illness. She is 1 1/2 years old.

Christine44 said:

Thanks for the replies so far. I haven't fed anything extra lately. Just chicken feed from the store. Pellets and crumle. I highly doubt she is broody. I have had broody hends and she isn't remotely disgruntled when I move her like a broody hen would be. In contrast, she is quite compliant which is out of character and causes me to lean towards illness. She is 1 1/2 years old.

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Welcome to BYC! That color green is not normal and is definitely a sign of illness. This link might have some useful info: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...mergency-and-supportive-care-updated-1-3-2016

Get her inside, read the link and let us know how thin she is (see body score pictures in link).

Once warm, she will need fluids if she is not drinking enough. Let me know if you want to learn how to tube feed and I'll teach you.

-Kathy