Apathetic Hen, Weird Poop, How Do I Help Her?

[Mkovach]

(Pics of poop in this post)

Kathy, one of my girls, seemed a bit off yesterday. It was just little things - she was in the nesting box for hours, no egg. Then I found a broken egg shell (I'd say it was about half an egg) in the run which I assume came from her, but can't be certain (I have two chickens.)

I saw her squat to poop two or three times before something finally came out, and it wasn't her "normal poop," but I know that there's a variety of healthy poop. She wasn't interested in eating much yesterday either, even when I put out her favorite, frozen peaches, she didn't touch them. She basically laid in the run and napped (which is also not like her). I checked her vent and it is clean.

I set out a poop board for overnight to see if her poop changed at all, and it's still very very watery, greenish and not what I'm used to. I saw a bit of blood too.

It was in the 90's here yesterday, could that have anything to do with it? She seems very "blah" still and hasn't come into the run yet this morning, which is odd. I've attached pictures of her poop from last night. In the second picture you can see a tiny bit of blood near the lower center of the picture. I feel like this is not normal..

I can't get her to the vet until tomorrow because of the holiday. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you guys so much, any help is always appreciated. I'm really really worried and will do whatever I can.

Addition: She just came outside but is not eating or drinking or pecking around in the grass. She is laying down where they normally dust bathe. I checked in the nesting boxes for my other girl and saw a bit of yolky stuff - maybe I missed it from last night.

 

[Judy]

Yes, that's enough heat to be stressing them a bit. They will hold their wings a bit away from their body and pant with open mouth if the heat is getting to them. Sometimes poop will be a bit watery in the summer heat just because they drink so much to cool off. The green is sometimes due to not eating a lot. The yolky stuff makes me wonder if an egg broke in her -- or someone could have simply broken an egg accidentally. (they will eat a broken egg; nothing to worry about in itself.)

For the heat, shade and breeze are the most important things, and of course plenty of fresh water. I run a fan in the coop all summer. I also hose down the soil near the coop if it is realy hot and sunny, and the bare dirt areas are getting hot.

You didn't mention how old she is. And unfortunately I didn't tell you what is wrong -- it would only be a guess, of course, but her age would help, as reproductive problems usually happen around 2 to 4 years.

I hope she gets better!

 

[Mkovach]

Hi, thank you so much for responding.

Kathy is 3 years old this summer. It's super hot and humid in Michigan, so I definitely use a fan, always ice water, sometimes frozen fruit, lots of shade, etc. She's not acting like she does when she's overheated - no panting, her wings aren't out.

I am at the emergency vet with her now, Because after I posted, I went outside and she was just standing up sleeping. She wouldn't eat or drink. However, this vet rarely sees chickens and doesn't really know what to do. I am going to take her to the avian vet tomorrow. Do you think I should keep her inside as it will be hot again today? My house is 72 degrees so is that too big of a change? I'm worried about her not drinking first off, right? That and her poop is so unusual. Now it's more white liquid than anything else. Thanks again for the help.