uraqt292
In the Brooder
- Mar 24, 2017
- 12
- 0
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I'm in my first year of having hens. Rhode Island Reds. One has yellow runny poop and holding its tail feathers down. She won't come out of the run and hides in the corner. What do I do?
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X2 @rebrascora has given you good instructions.Hi
I would bring her indoors, give her a good soak in a warm Epsom salt bath(20 mins) and get her vent cleaned up, so that you can have a good look and possible a gentle internal examination with a gloved finger. If you place a dark cover over the trug or large bucket you bath her in it will help to keep her calm but make sure not to leave her unsupervised, so that she doesn't drown. Obviously ensure there is sufficient air flow so that she doesn't suffocate.
Use a lubricant to gently ease your finger into her vent an inch or so and see if you can feel an egg. If she is egg bound you need to help her get it out. The warmth of the bath can sometimes help to relax the muscles and I believe a calcium supplement like Tums may help with the muscle contractions to expel it.
Is there any abdominal swelling between her legs....compare to a healthy hen. If there is swelling then it is most likely ascites (water belly) or internal laying. These are longer term problems rather than egg binding which is an emergency which will kill her within a couple of days. You won't generally see any abdominal swelling if she is egg bound.
Make sure you dry her thoroughly after her bath (a hair drier works well) unless you are in a hot climate and keep her in a box in the house to keep her warm and so that you can observe her more easily. Ensuring that she has access to water and I would recommend giving her sloppy feed rather than dry crumble or pellets.
Report back with your findings and we will try to guide you from there.
Good luck with her
Regards
Barbara