chicken constipation?

[staceyj]

Hi @zjz1999,
I noticed you haven’t hit the like button on comments posted by @Wyorp Rock.

Have you seen them?
Maybe you missed it.
Please read back.

@Wyorp Rock is a BYC educator. A real expert.
(I am NOT, I just try to offer good suggestions based on things I’ve personally experienced)

If ANYONE can steer you in the right direction, @Wyorp Rock can.

To answer your question, technically yes you can go in a little farther but don’t go crazy.
Be gentle and use lubricant.
It’s not like digging change out of a couch cushion! You are just searching for the obvious.

When she was wet and her feathers were flattened, did you notice any protuberances to her body?
Anything odd about her shape anywhere, like her belly?

A picture of that poop plop would be awesome.
Please get one if you can.

It’s amazing how much can be told about a chicken by their poop.
*the hotter it is the more water content to their poop—usually.
However having said that,

You said she’s not been eating/drinking...

What are you doing to remedy that? Please try.

And do you have her inside in an observation crate/cage/box? I would if you can.

 

[zjz1999]

I posted some pictures of her above. She's 2.5 years old and was a healthy layer up to now. She's not fully dry from the bath so her feathers look funny. Her stance does not show a laying or bowel problem - I guess. She's very thin due to her sickness and not eating. Since last night, she only ate a pinch of dried worms on her own. I hand fed her yoghurt.

 

[staceyj]

She’s a beautiful girl and her comb color looks pretty vibrant to me, do you agree?
Since she’s yours you know what color she usually runs.
Her stance is a little wide, but upright. Tail’s up. Do her feet/legs look spread wide or not? Or is it because of being on a slippery floor? Or is that just her build?

Crop feel empty?
Tell me again does she free range or no?
What do you have for nesting material in your coop/run?

 

[zjz1999]

She's been inside for observation since last night. I felt inside her again and did not feel egg, poop, or any other object. Her shape looks just normal. I massaged her when giving her a bath. She is thin but I can't feel any abnormal growth from outside. The only thing abnormal is I could not feel the crop.

 

[zjz1999]

Comb color is normal. Her stance looks normal to me too. One of the photos shows her legs apart, that's because I just set her down on the floor like that. Crop is completely empty! She free ranges all day inside a 4000 sqft protected run with 11 other hens. The floor of the run is dirt. Nesting material in the coop is straw.

 

[staceyj]

I see that @Eggcessive Is reading her way down this thread let’s hope she comes up with something!

 

[zjz1999]

There is a chicken vet 45 minutes from me but they are not open until next Tuesday. A couple of pet hospitals nearby treat pet birds. Are they worth trying?

I'm so sorry that I did not check on her as soon as I noticed she was not well.

 

[staceyj]

Any new birds in your flock recently?
I’m going to see if I can get some more help here.

 

[zjz1999]

no new birds. and all other girls are healthy.

 

[aart]

Is her belly swollen, from below vent to between legs?