Hen stopped pooping overnight

[caralouise1974]

Probably not something to worry about, but still, a sudden change in behaviour - my buff orpington seems to go some nights now without doing any poop at all.

She's never been a big pooper, unlike her bluebelle (marans-based hybrid) coopmate, but now she seems to sometimes go to bed with her crop feeling quite empty and no poop at all in the morning. (I know this because they refuse to perch, and each sleep in their own personal nestbox, so I can examine their poops every morning!)

She is otherwise very healthy, laying daily, active and eating well (hmmm, I should say well-ish - she's never been a big eater, except when I arrive in the evenings with a handful of sunflower seeds or other treats).

It's been very hot for this time of year in the UK for the last couple of weeks - could this have reduced her food intake and mean she doesn't have so much poop to pass?

 

[debilorrah]

Ok, this may sound like a sily question, but how can you tell???

 

[caralouise1974]

I'm not sure I understand the question, sorry!

She always sleeps in the same nestbox... some mornings there's no poop in it... so I can assume that she's not done any poops overnight.

Does that make it clearer, or am I still misunderstanding your question? I'm all confused!

 

[Judy]

She might just go out to poop -- I'd be more concerned about the empty crop. I suppose the heat could be the problem. I have fans in both my coops this time of year. Could try some ice in the water. Do they have plenty of shade? Is the coop well ventilated?

Of course there could be any number of problems, but you could at least try to cool them off a bit. You haven't had a bunch of feed get moldy, have you?