Diarrhea, plucked feathers on butt and recent giant egg

[WildSuburbian]

One of my Australorp's has virtually no feathers on her butt today. She seems to be having diarrhea also, as the feathers she has remaining were caked with white fecal matter.

I cleaned her rear with warm water and hen-safe soap this morning which she seemed to appreciate. But she is still drooling her fecal matter down her rear.

I have 8 hens and she is the only having this problem which just presented.

They all have an every other day rotation of Kefir and water with cider vinegar.

The only thing that is 'different' is that this hen laid a monster egg last week - 4 oz and 3 inches long by 2 inches wide. We have been really hot and humid the past 2 weeks and the hens are all screwed up with their laying.

Could she have injured herself and this is why she is having trouble now? If yes, what the heck can I do to help her?

Or is she having an issue with her crop that I am overlooking? She has had sourcrop before and does not have it now.

Many thanks in advance for your sage advice.

 

[Gramma Bunny]

I would like to see an answer to this question as well, as I have one of six hens that is in the same circumstance. And because I'm new to keeping chickens I'm not sure what to do. When my hubby can help me I think we'll take a closer look and I'll wash her to see if this helps. But just as you described we had an extremely large egg recently and these girls are all new to laying. They also free range mornings so perhaps she's eaten something she shouldn't have? She's still eating and behaving normally, thank God.

BTW, I LOVE LOVE LOVE BYC...It's been a Godsend in so many ways for me, as I easily reference my questions and find several great answers to almost anything you could experience being a flock keeper. I LOVE my hens! Thank you all!!!

 

[ten chicks]

One of my Australorp's has virtually no feathers on her butt today. She seems to be having diarrhea also, as the feathers she has remaining were caked with white fecal matter.

I cleaned her rear with warm water and hen-safe soap this morning which she seemed to appreciate. But she is still drooling her fecal matter down her rear.

I have 8 hens and she is the only having this problem which just presented.

They all have an every other day rotation of Kefir and water with cider vinegar.

The only thing that is 'different' is that this hen laid a monster egg last week - 4 oz and 3 inches long by 2 inches wide. We have been really hot and humid the past 2 weeks and the hens are all screwed up with their laying.

Could she have injured herself and this is why she is having trouble now? If yes, what the heck can I do to help her?

Or is she having an issue with her crop that I am overlooking? She has had sourcrop before and does not have it now.

Many thanks in advance for your sage advice.

Hen has vent gleet.

 

[ten chicks]

I would like to see an answer to this question as well, as I have one of six hens that is in the same circumstance. And because I'm new to keeping chickens I'm not sure what to do. When my hubby can help me I think we'll take a closer look and I'll wash her to see if this helps. But just as you described we had an extremely large egg recently and these girls are all new to laying. They also free range mornings so perhaps she's eaten something she shouldn't have? She's still eating and behaving normally, thank God.

BTW, I LOVE LOVE LOVE BYC...It's been a Godsend in so many ways for me, as I easily reference my questions and find several great answers to almost anything you could experience being a flock keeper. I LOVE my hens! Thank you all!!!

If your girl has poop and a whitish discharge on her bottom,she has vent gleet.

 

[Gramma Bunny]

Thank you so much! Hadn't read anything about vent gleet before...Looks just as described. I appreciate having an idea what to do next!!! Haven't had a sick chickie yet, new territory.