A sign of broodiness? Yellow droppings and odd behavior.

[MedusaSnake]

Hello all. Yesterday, one of my blue laced Wyandottes was acting a little strange. Her wings were hanging a little low from her body, while her droppings all contained sort of yellowish urates. She had also held her tail a bit lower than usual.

When I let her out, she wasn’t moving around as fast as she usually did, and when I tried to pick her up a little, I saw that a small bit of blood got on me. They were very small stains, the size of a common house ant I would say. I’ve tried checking for a wound, but she has been quite finicky today and hasn’t let me get too close. I think it may have come from her lower body. Here is a dropping from yesterday.

Today, her droppings are rather similar although she is much more like herself. She has much more energy and even laid an egg. However, after she laid, she suddenly hopped back in the box again and sat on the egg, making sounds that were like those of a broody hen. She sat for a while before coming down to feast on some crumble. I didn’t see her go up and sit on the egg again.


When I let her out of the coop, she ran around with her friend, who is the same breed as her. They went foraging together. I tried feeling around again under her body but I haven’t felt any blood. Below are her droppings from today.
I am wondering if maybe this could be a more serious issue, maybe a liver issue? I also wanted to mention that she was eating fresh corn both yesterday and today, but I was unsure if corn could cause droppings to become yellow.

Some more info on the hen. She should be a little over three this year. She is usually a consistent layer, with one egg almost everyday.
As for other factors that could help, the weather here is warm, around the mid 70’s in the afternoon. Next month should be molting season for the girls.

 

[Eggcessive]

The green color of droppings usually is due to not eating enough food, while the yellow urates can be a sign of liver issues. Those liver problems can be from a reproductive disorder, cancer, fatty liver disease, and sometimes heart problems. I have had a few hens with enlarged swollen lower abdomens, and had the yellow urates staining the under vent area for a couple of years. Eventually they died, but since your may not be eating well, I would try to get her eating some mushy wet feed, and soft cooked egg. See that she is drinking well too. Have you used any vitamins and electrolytes? The b vitamins could possibly make the urates a bit yellow.

 

[MedusaSnake]

See that she is drinking well too. Have you used any vitamins and electrolytes? The b vitamins could possibly make the urates a bit yellow.

I offered some mushy food yesterday with some acv, but both hens didn't seem to like it. I'll try again later with just water and crumble. I saw her drink a good amount of water last night just before bed. As for her diet, she seems to have taken a liking to a goji berry tree I have in my garden, but she mostly eats the crumble we offer all year round. I'll keep monitering her.

 

[MedusaSnake]

Here is the broody hen sound I mentioned.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How is this hen doing? Is there still blood in her poop?