3 or 4 yr old Hen has Pasty Butt, Watery/Pasty stool, Lethargic, Not Eating Scratch, But Still Drinking Water

[MyFlockIsMyLife]

My older hen is not doing well today. Noticed she wasn’t coming for scratch, went to find her, she had pasty butt, was drinking water, and not much else. Separated her and cleaned her vent. Have her in a XL dog kennel w clean bedding now. Tried to feed scrambled eggs- no interest at first, but will take small bites if I hand feed her. Added water to feed (layer pellets) and she started eating that. She has clean water access. None of my other flock members have these symptoms. I did not see anything moving in the feces I removed from her butt/vent area. She seems a bit mellow and just stands there. Could she maybe just need vitamins?

 

[triciayoung]

A lot of questions, but first, you are doing well keeping her eating and drinking. Frankly, that will keep her alive to have time to figure out what is going on. Do you have a picture of her? Vitamins will help, but it is probably something much bigger. There are many worms you cannot see with your eyes. How is she breathing? What is her stance? is she still laying? If not, when is the last time she laid? What does her poop look like (pictures). I don't know where you are, but she should be kept warm if it is cold.

 

[Debbie292d]

Is this the first time she had pasty butt? I ask because I had one that had it her whole life. I never found a cause, and probiotics helped, but didn't resolve it 100%. I kept her butt shaved so it would stop sticking.

Do you know when the last time she laid an egg was?

 

[MyFlockIsMyLife]

First time with pasty butt for her. She seems to be breathing well, not strained at all. Although she was standing ALL DAY, she wasn’t standing “funny”…basically normal for her, but she wasn’t moving around like she normally does, and seemed to be only interested in water until I separated and watered down the pellets/offered scrambled eggs. She’s been inconsistent with the egg laying for a long while now- the past year just about. Used to lay daily, but then started going every other day, to every few days, and now it’s been at least a week since she last laid an egg. There’s a photo of her attached- she JUST laid down for bed. I will bring the kennel in the garage overnight for warmth- even though it’s still fairly warm at night near me. Added photo of her vent a bit closer/better than first photo- she seems to be colored red underneath her kind of near the vent. Her poop still seems not solid. I know the poop pic I added is from today and seems more solid but I also just watched her just release liquid…

 

[triciayoung]

First time with pasty butt for her. She seems to be breathing well, not strained at all. Although she was standing ALL DAY, she wasn’t standing “funny”…basically normal for her, but she wasn’t moving around like she normally does, and seemed to be only interested in water until I separated and watered down the pellets/offered scrambled eggs. She’s been inconsistent with the egg laying for a long while now- the past year just about. Used to lay daily, but then started going every other day, to every few days, and now it’s been at least a week since she last laid an egg. There’s a photo of her attached- she JUST laid down for bed. I will bring the kennel in the garage overnight for warmth- even though it’s still fairly warm at night near me. Added photo of her vent a bit closer/better than first photo- she seems to be colored red underneath her kind of near the vent. Her poop still seems not solid. I know the poop pic I added is from today and seems more solid but I also just watched her just release liquid…

She is a very pretty Australorp. I also love your creativity with the laundry basket and the stick for a roosting bar if she wants it. Has she eaten anything green? Does her poop always have that green tint to it? If you cup her bottom, under the vent, in your hand, does it feel like a water balloon? A really important question now that she is laying down...does her breathing change when she lays down?

 

[MyFlockIsMyLife]

She is a very pretty Australorp. I also love your creativity with the laundry basket and the stick for a roosting bar if she wants it. Has she eaten anything green? Does her poop always have that green tint to it? If you cup her bottom, under the vent, in your hand, does it feel like a water balloon? A really important question now that she is laying down...does her breathing change when she lays down?

Lol it’s a XL dog kennel that I don’t use all the time currently, but yeah I figured it the holes on the sides were perfect for a stick to roost, thank you. Sooooo I have these trees native to my area that my chickens LOVE the leaves of, and yes, I give them some every other day or so as an extra treat. I’ve noticed their poops get dark green when they eat them, so I try not to give them too much, but maybe I am?? Her breathing is the same as when she is standing- no distress & even breaths in and out. HOLY MOLY it DEFINITELY feels like a water balloon there under the vent area.

 

[triciayoung]

Lol it’s a XL dog kennel that I don’t use all the time currently, but yeah I figured it the holes on the sides were perfect for a stick to roost, thank you. Sooooo I have these trees native to my area that my chickens LOVE the leaves of, and yes, I give them some every other day or so as an extra treat. I’ve noticed their poops get dark green when they eat them, so I try not to give them too much, but maybe I am?? Her breathing is the same as when she is standing- no distress & even breaths in and out. HOLY MOLY it DEFINITELY feels like a water balloon there under the vent area.

I just wanted to know if green was a normal color. My chickens poop is almost black everyday because of the blueberries they eat. Do you have access to a vet that sees chickens?

 

[Debbie292d]

HOLY MOLY it DEFINITELY feels like a water balloon there under the vent area.

She could have ascites (water belly). That would explain some of her symptoms, except the pasty butt, but her age fits as well.

Here's a thread regarding someone elses hen with it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ascites-treatment.1662714/post-28582808

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Although she was standing ALL DAY,

seemed to be only interested in water

She’s been inconsistent with the egg laying for a long while now

it’s been at least a week since she last laid an egg.

I'm sorry about your hen.

I'd start with giving her 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily for 5-7days. See if she expels an egg, membrane or lash material.

Check her crop to see that it's emptying overnight. She's drinking only water there for a while, this may be an indication that the crop/digestive system is not moving as well as it should.
If the crop is not empty in the morning, give her 1tsp coconut oil twice a day. This can be given in little chunks. Massage the crop and let us know what the crop feels like (hard, soft, squishy, doughy, fluid or air filled).

Do keep in mind that often a hen that has something reproductive going on, it's not uncommon for there to be crop symptoms/issues too. You want to treat as a whole, addressing the reproductive along with the crop.

Keep her hydrated and eating.

If possible, take a sample of her poop to the vet to see if she would benefit from deworming too.

 

[triciayoung]

If it is a reproductive issue, I will help you. It is unfortunate, but I have been through this many times because I have a rescue with many production breed hens. Despite what some may say, there is a lot of hope and treatments. @Debbie292d, two of my hens with confirmed EYP had pasty butt. I say first things first. I don't treat for worms unless it is confirmed because if a chicken is sick, it is too taxing on their bodies. If you do not have access to a vet, you could ask a dog vet if you brought in a sample, could they do a fecal check for worms. If the reproductive issue is EYP, then antibiotics need to be on board quickly. I have placed 6-suprelorin deslorins implants.