can we talk about this clumping poop issue here?

[haTHOR]

i searched for my hen's issue and learned a lot but still have questions.

my RSL is one year old, a big healthy girl but i am not sure about her weight--perhaps 6-7 lbs--and i raised her from a chick. she is eating nutrena nature wise layer pellets, and i also have recently started feeding them BOSS and oyster shell. they get scraps almost every day, i have fed yogurt once or twice a week and ACV in their water for the last two-three weeks.

today i noticed a large clump of poop on her behind and tried to get some off with a napkin. it is fairly hard and none came off. the poop looks smeary but also clumpy...i do see a couple bits that still look similar to the pellets they eat.

while i was watching her closely she went in the nest and laid. i was surprised to see her squat and no egg come out...the egg was only able to come out halfway and a "band" or belt of poo was tight against it so it couldn't come out. it was the same poop i had just noticed, already on her bottom (not newly coming out with the egg). she was walking around in the coop seeming uncomfortable. i had to help her "deliver" the egg by moving the poop "band" to the side. it was a little disconcerting and pretty gross! i want to help her.

she seems alert and active as ever.

i started seeing a bit of buildup on a few hens in my flock a few weeks ago (this is why i started the ACV and yogurt) just after i let them out to free range again (after the winter break). at first i assumed it was the addition of bugs and grass. now i am getting concerned it is more serious. i have picked apart a few poos and did not see evidence of worms.

her housing is a 4x6 coop with 7 other hens using DLM and she has a huge run--is in the 150x30 garden most of the time, free ranging out of that once a day. in the coop with food (no water) from dark to 7 or 8 am.

why does this happen all of a sudden (yes, it has been happening some, but today is a BIG clump that effected her egg laying ability)? i read how to clean her up and will do so first thing tomorrow. i guess i am more concerned with the underlying cause sp i can really help solve the problem.

thanks in advance.

 

[gameboygal12]

I have that problem with one of my hens too. they told me to give her a warm bath and let it soften and gently try to get it off little bits at a time.

 

[haTHOR]

were you able to learn *why* it happens?

thanks!

 

[gameboygal12]

nope.... never knew why. it's only on my one hen... she is kinda elderly but I don't think that's it

 

[underground chickenman]

Sounds like she may have laid a big poop and sat on it or sat on someone else's and it got matted in the feathers around her vent. Obviously, I haven't seen it, so you will have to be the judge of whether that might fit the bill. Anybody poop in the nest box lately? If you think that was the cause, I would treat it like a pasty butt on a chick. Soften with a warm water sponge bath until it comes loose. It might be a one time episode, but if you think she's got diarrhea, you will need to treat for that. Lots of info on this forum about that if you do a search.

UGCM

 

[chookchick]

You can carefully clip the feathers back around her vent, so the poo won't stick as easily. What about her droppings in general? have they changed consistency? more diarrhea? I find a poop board is invaluable for this, as I can take a close look at everyone's droppings before scooping them off (and they all sit in pretty much the same places). You might want to put another waterer in the coop, as they do wake up early and need water, especially when they are laying. A rabbit type watering bottle might work well in a smaller place, if they can figure out how to use it. What kind of scraps are they getting? Hopefully no sugar or bread.

 

[haTHOR]

we are gluten free so any bread they get is not wheat...it's whole grain (usually corn/potato/rice/sweet potato/oat-based) breads--and not much of that. we don't use sugar or buy it so no, nothing sweet unless it was something made with honey or maple syrup, and that kind of stuff doesn't last long enough to be "scraps" around here with three kids!

i will watch her poop tomorrow. it's only their second night in the new coop, so they don't have usual spots yet (that i've noticed). but i'll follow her around until she uses the bathroom.

the coop is a lot of OSB so i've been hesitant to put water in there, but will look into getting something they can't spill! i know we let them out a little late in the am, so that makes sense.

i want to clip the actual poop awayand then soak if necessary...will do so. i did see her actual vent when i helped her with the egg, forgot to mention--it looked totally poop free and clean as a whistle...not red or inflamed either.