Bald bottom and stopped laying!

[Joeschooks]

Actually internal layers can go for months without appearing to be unwell at all apart from a gradually swelling belly(which is often well hidden by feathers) and eventually they walk with a wide stance and start to get a poopy butt as the pressure of the yolk masses constricts the gut and the swelling means the poop does not fall free of their feathers. I had one go more than 9 months and not appear sick until eventually the weight and pressure of it started taking an effect on her ability to get about.
I love the idea of your granny knitting her some bloomers.... what a fab mental image that conjours up and a happy thought to remember her by.

I have to admit I'm a bit worried when you say about the poop. The fluff around her vent does have some white steaks (poo) but she does have a very fluffy bottom! They're not clumps or anything like that and presumably I'd feel the swelling if she was at that stage? Does the fact she's laid a couple of eggs mean it's definitely not that? I'd better keep a very close eye on her and I'll google internal laying as I've not had that before.

 

[rebrascora]

It is unusual for them to lay normally as well as laying internally, if that puts your mind at rest a bit. White streaky poop on their feathers can be an indication that there is problem. It tends to happens when the gut becomes constricted and mostly just white urates are able to be passed. I would start monitoring her poop if you can.... perhaps note where she is roosting on a night and then check the poop board below in the morning. A bit of soiling of the butt feathers may be something or nothing, but it is worth keeping an eye on her in view of the poor egg production issue as well. There are other possibilities like tumours( sadly another rather common ailment in chickens) so monitoring her body condition on a regular (weekly) basis might be wise and even weighing her weekly if you can.
I know some of the things I have mentioned are a bit scary and to be honest there isn't anything you can really do about them anyway, so don't dwell on them too much, as she may be perfectly healthy and just a poor layer and having an odd moult.

 

[Joeschooks]

It is unusual for them to lay normally as well as laying internally, if that puts your mind at rest a bit. White streaky poop on their feathers can be an indication that there is problem. It tends to happens when the gut becomes constricted and mostly just white urates are able to be passed. I would start monitoring her poop if you can.... perhaps note where she is roosting on a night and then check the poop board below in the morning. A bit of soiling of the butt feathers may be something or nothing, but it is worth keeping an eye on her in view of the poor egg production issue as well. There are other possibilities like tumours( sadly another rather common ailment in chickens) so monitoring her body condition on a regular (weekly) basis might be wise and even weighing her weekly if you can.
I know some of the things I have mentioned are a bit scary and to be honest there isn't anything you can really do about them anyway, so don't dwell on them too much, as she may be perfectly healthy and just a poor layer and having an odd moult.

Thank you Rebrascora. More very helpful info. I will be giving her weekly inspections as you suggest!

 

[aart]

Good advice from @rebrascora.
Yes, good to keep an eye, and hands, on them regularly so you are familiar with their anatomy, then you'll observe all the 'normals' and it's much easier to spot a problem before it's 'horrible'.

I often grab a bird or two off the roost at night and give them good going over using my headlamp for light. I have a chair in there so I can lay them on my aproned lap for easier handling and a small towel to cover their heads to calm them if needed.
Good practice for both keeper and birds getting used to handling when they are 'night tranced'.

Hard not to jump to those horrible conclusions, but birds stop laying, have funky poops, and lose some feathers for all sorts of reasons, many of them 'normal'.

 

[Joeschooks]

Thank you for your advice @aart