Is she sick or wanting to lay?

[Charlene]

My young hen, about 5 months old is acting strangely. She hasn't laid yet ever. She has a bit of poop on her butt, and is spending a lot of time lying down and resting while her two buddies are off scratching and eating (they are free range). I've seen her eat some but she looks uncomfortable to me, lying down and it's almost like she is sticking out her butt.

Does she want to lay (she is the biggest)? Or is she constipated? They get whatever they can find (plenty since there are horses) and a bit of laying mix. Last week a branch off the plum tree fell down so they've been having plums too.

Ideas??? What should I be looking for?

Here's a pic of her butt.

 

[arlee453]

How is your hen today?

 

[Matt A NC]

You need to get the poop off. If flys find it you can have a really bad problem with mggots.

Matt

 

[Charlene]

Actually, she laid an egg yesterday, her first! She seems fine now.

How would I get the poop off? She is free range and I haven't touched her in months...

 

[jjthink]

When she goes to bed at night and gets sleepy you can pick her up and very carefully with good small scissors snip off the poop and pieces of feather it's attached to. Others give their hens butts a bath - this may take longer and be more stressful for a girl not used to being handled. Not a picnic but take a good look at that butt and make sure no injuries or bugs...

I make sure layer food is available 24/7, along with oyster shell in a separate dish so they get to regulate how much they take, various fresh fruits and veggies in modest amounts so as not to mess with the main diet, and Avia Charge 2000 in the water at about half strength. Plus free range bugs and plants. A combination like this should give hens what they need to stay healthy and happy and to make eggs with as little problem as possible.

JJ

Edited to add that sunflower seeds are also well loved and reportedly offer worthy benefits..