Hen Annie trying to poop, insides seem outside

[jjthink]

Hi - Never a dull moment, geez louise. Hen Annie was just pooping and part came out and part she is straining to get out (her first poop of the morning is elephant sized). It's stuck and I looked and lots of red tissue - looks like her insides (the part that issues poop because the poop is right there surrounded by the tissue) are out. How do I help her? She is normally the picture of health and energy. She is not having any trouble with eggs - only laying one once in awhile because it's winter, which is fine. She is standing still, consumed by this dilemma.
JJ

 

[Farmer Kitty]

If the poop is still stuck in her try using some sort of lubricant and smiring it around in there the best you can. An oil would probably work best-Veg oil, mineral oil.

 

[jjthink]

Thank you very much for your thoughts on this. I was outside working on her and using some veggie oil around the opening was able to somewhat indelicately (understatement) squeeze the impacted stuff out (it was one really tough ball of stuff and wasn't otherwise budging). Got enough out that her red mad insides went back in where they belong (thank goodness for that!).

She seems relieved and is walking around now. Not sure how much more is in there - it's light grayish brown for the past few days by the way, if that means anything. How to prevent more incidents I wonder? I offered her some yogurt and she would have nothing to do with it. At the moment I am offering her nothing else, although maybe a few sunflower seeds wouldn't be a bad idea. They have fresh water with Avia Charge 2000 available 24/7. May stay home and let them free range a bit because some exercise might be a good idea. Last day with decent temps before frigid cold arrives.

JJ

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I'm glad you were able to help her pass it. Not sure on the color but, black oil sunflower seeds are suppose to help lubricate their insides so it might help.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will come along and help further.

 

[jjthink]

Thank you
She had a few sunflower seeds (she has some every day) and is now taking in sunshine with her buddy BJ roo.
I'm afraid there is more hard poo in there that will have trouble coming out so I am wondering if anyone has thoughts on what to give her to relieve constipation as well as to prevent it in the future.
Impaction is such a serious thing.......I worry about what would have happened if I hadn't been home to see her in this state and to deal with it, likely the case next time so I hope to prevent a reoccurrence. I gather the light brown/gray color of the poop (it's usually darker brown) is a clue of some kind.

Her diet has been the same for the several months since she arrrived in July- layer food available 24/7, along with oyster shell. Fresh water always, with Avia Charge 2000. Snacks of small cut up pieces of fruit or veggies, and sunflower/bird seed mixture - toss a couple of handfuls out in the morning for she and her roo friend. A bit of scratch on winter mornings and evenings when it's going to be quite cold overnight. Try to give them some free range time too where they can get plants and bugs they choose - this time of year there's not much. Her appetite is usually hearty.
JJ

 

[jjthink]

Drat. She went inside into the nest box. Of all the days to try to lay an egg. Hope her insides stay inside. And that the egg hasn't been somehow stuck for awhile due to the impaction of stool. Thank goodness for winter and that her body hasn't been making an egg a day. BJ roo followed her in and is gently cooing to her - he has such a calming effect. Love him

JJ

Edited to say she gave up the egg idea and went back outside with BJ roo and they're exploring -

 

[SeaChick]

JJ-
Here is a link with some laxative solutions for chickens. http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/extsoln.htm
I hope it helps. Keep us updated!
Stacey

 

[jjthink]

Hi Stacey, Thanks very much for that link! I'll have to pick up molasses or castor oil and maybe try to get her a fresh start, so to speak!

Boy, what a challenging day they're having. I was finally starting to get some work for work done and I heard a bunch of crows screaming (thank you crows - what a blessing) and sure enough, there was a big red-tailed hawk sitting on a branch just above the outdoor run. Luckily Bj and Annie had dashed indoors from where they had been free ranging and are now inside, traumatized. I don't know if this is the same hawk, but a couple of months ago, one got a fix on them and visits from time to time. It's frustrating, because this is the one nice day before an extended run of frigid mean weather and they were enjoying themselves so much out and about (their run bores them in 2 seconds flat - they like to explore new places...).

JJ

 

[MissPrissy]

Try feeding her some olive oil soaked bread. The oil will help things to slide a bit better.

 

[chickbea]

Poor Annie. I'm glad you got that first mass out of her.
Any chance she ate something fairly indigestible and that is making its way through her? I don't have any clue what to do, but the other's suggestions about giving her a good internal lubing sound like a good idea. That's what our Grammas would have done!