Hen With a Blocked Vent and Thin

[SaltyFlockers]

Hello. My husband noticed one of our hens hand an odd looking butt. When I went to check her I noticed she had long pieces of grass stuck, not sure how because they don't free range and we don't give them long grass, and when I tried to remove it I realized her vent was blocked so I soaked her in warm water with Epsom salt and was able to clear her vent but when I was holding her I noticed she was very thin I could feel and see her breastbone. When I went to get her initially she didn't run from me, try to get away, and wasnt vocal like she usually is and I handle her. When I was done with her soak and put her back in the run it took her a few minutes to fluff her fearhers and she just stood still pecking at the water dropping from her feathers but she eventually started walking around with the other hens. She also seems to be molting but the others aren't. We check our girls every day, although I don't have handle them daily, I check to make sure they are eating and drinking, check their butts some aren't fluffy but that comes and goes, look at their feet, crops, eyes, combs, and if there are any wounds. I haven't noticed anything of with her until today and I'm worried. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi, welcome to BYC. Can you post a picture of her so we can see what you mean about her looking like she's molting?

What do you feed, including treats or snacks? Do they have grit and oyster shell available 24/7? How old is this bird and how long have you had her? Is she laying and do you know when she last laid an egg? When you cleaned her up, are you still convinced it was grass that came from her vent?

 

[SaltyFlockers]

I can get a photo tomorrow. We feed our hens layena with the recommended protein content, they get corn scratch, black sunflower seeds, meal worms daily but just a little as a snack. We add grit regularly. I leave extra sunflower seeds out during the day. They get an apple almost every day and I give them lemon balm, basil, oregano, parsley, and rosemary herbs a few times a week I rotate which combinations they get. They also get lettuce and cabbage a couple times a week as well.

All of our hens just turned two and we've had them since they were chicks. I'm not sure the last time she laid an egg.

Now that you ask no I'm not 100% sure it was grass because I didn't pay attention if it was floating in the water once I got it off but it sure did have that look and her vent looked good after I cleaned her up.

I just went and checked on her and she's not in the coop. I don't know how long that has been going on. Now I'm really worried and am wondering what I missed. I love my girls.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Could it have been some of the herbs?

 

[SaltyFlockers]

Maybe but I don't think so. I didn't give them anything new.