Constipation? Something else?

[BSherm770]

My Black Astralorp (14 months old) is walking around fluffed up trying to what looks like poop. I observed her for a while; she actually has a stool hanging out of her vent and she expelled it. She then walked around for several more minutes flexing the vent muscles all puffed up before she tucked herself in to bed. She already laid an egg this morning (about 12 hours ago), so I don’t know that she could be egg bound. She’s previously had problems with egg yolk perintosis. Any ideas?

 

[micstrachan]

It really could be almost anything. What does her diet consist of, and does she have access to grit? Feeding some chunks of solid coconut oil can lube the GI tract and help when they are backed up. How is her crop functioning? Full at night and empty in the morning?

 

[dawg53]

If you suspect that she is constipated provide her a molasses flush. Dosage is 3 ounces per 1 gallon of water for one day.
Or you can give her applesauce. Applesauce acts as a mild flush in chickens.
As mentioned by Micstrachan, it could be due to a diet issue.

 

[Treekthebeak]

My Black Astralorp (14 months old) is walking around fluffed up trying to what looks like poop. I observed her for a while; she actually has a stool hanging out of her vent and she expelled it. She then walked around for several more minutes flexing the vent muscles all puffed up before she tucked herself in to bed. She already laid an egg this morning (about 12 hours ago), so I don’t know that she could be egg bound. She’s previously had problems with egg yolk perintosis. Any ideas?

Give her some chicken grit. Is her poop runny? If that is so she may likely have cocci as she is showing 2 symptons.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you post a picture of her vent area when it is cleaned up? Has she ever suffered from a prolapsed vent? Are her eggs ever very large?

 

[BSherm770]

She seems to be ok this morning still going to watch her closely today. They eat layer crumbles and I toss out some cracked corn. Cheese snacks a couple of times a week nothing strange about her eggs - normal sized; lays every day.