Lethargic chicken with white liquid diarrhea and something in it?

[PonchosGals]

Hello,
my chicken (born Aug 15) has recently begun acting strange. She is just standing in the middle of the yard and is refusing food. She won’t even eat her favorite treats. One of our girls recently started laying and I think she laid her first egg yesterday. They have been using everything except their nesting boxes but she found a cozy spot in a leaf pile and was laying on an egg. I’m not sure if she is upset that I took the egg yesterday but she is acting very strange today. Nothing has changed in her diet, water or housing. It doesn’t feel like she’s egg bound but I’m not sure. She is lethargic and has diarrhea (pictured below). It seems like something is in the poop but I’m not sure. She isn’t walking around and I’m not sure what to do. Her water has electrolytes. Please help!

 

[PonchosGals]

I put her in a warm bath and she ended up being egg bound. I will keep her in a crate overnight to rest but hoping she’s better by tomorrow!

 

[casportpony]

Wow, good job!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello,
my chicken (born Aug 15) has recently begun acting strange. She is just standing in the middle of the yard and is refusing food. She won’t even eat her favorite treats. One of our girls recently started laying and I think she laid her first egg yesterday. They have been using everything except their nesting boxes but she found a cozy spot in a leaf pile and was laying on an egg. I’m not sure if she is upset that I took the egg yesterday but she is acting very strange today. Nothing has changed in her diet, water or housing. It doesn’t feel like she’s egg bound but I’m not sure. She is lethargic and has diarrhea (pictured below). It seems like something is in the poop but I’m not sure. She isn’t walking around and I’m not sure what to do. Her water has electrolytes. Please help!

I put her in a warm bath and she ended up being egg bound. I will keep her in a crate overnight to rest but hoping she’s better by tomorrow!

Welcome To BYC!

Pretty pullet!

Sometimes when coming into lay, pullets can act a bit off. Since it seems like your girl was having a hard time, I'd also give her 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily for 3-5days to see if this helps regulate her a little.

When a pullet or hen is in crisis and struggling with an egg, give her the Extra Calcium, this can often help them expel the egg or material more efficiently.

Just pull down on her wattles, pop the tablet into the beak and let her swallow.

 

[PonchosGals]

Welcome To BYC!

Pretty pullet!

Sometimes when coming into lay, pullets can act a bit off. Since it seems like your girl was having a hard time, I'd also give her 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily for 3-5days to see if this helps regulate her a little.

When a pullet or hen is in crisis and struggling with an egg, give her the Extra Calcium, this can often help them expel the egg or material more efficiently.

Just pull down on her wattles, pop the tablet into the beak and let her swallow.

should I expect her to have more issues laying? This is her second egg she’s laid thus far as she’s just starting to lay. I want to make sure she doesn’t keep experiencing this! Thanks so much for your amazing response. I really really appreciate it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

should I expect her to have more issues laying? This is her second egg she’s laid thus far as she’s just starting to lay. I want to make sure she doesn’t keep experiencing this! Thanks so much for your amazing response. I really really appreciate it.

Sometimes those first eggs can be difficult for them, they seem a bit confused and uncomfortable, plus trying to find a place to lay, etc. New layer jitters I suppose.

She should be fine if you are providing a nutritionally balanced poultry feed with oyster shell free choice. I do like to give the Extra Calcium for a few days if one has been having a bit of a struggle. You don't want to give the tablets all the time, but for a few days during a crisis or something that is concerning, it fine to do.

She's a really pretty girl, does she talk a lot? I love Barred Rocks.

 

[PonchosGals]

Sometimes those first eggs can be difficult for them, they seem a bit confused and uncomfortable, plus trying to find a place to lay, etc. New layer jitters I suppose.

She should be fine if you are providing a nutritionally balanced poultry feed with oyster shell free choice. I do like to give the Extra Calcium for a few days if one has been having a bit of a struggle. You don't want to give the tablets all the time, but for a few days during a crisis or something that is concerning, it fine to do.

She's a really pretty girl, does she talk a lot? I love Barred Rocks.

Yes that’s been so tough! We’ve been having a very hard time trying to get them to lay in their nesting boxes. Trying to ensure she’s comfortable! We will get that supplement and oysters today. We’ve been feeding them a crumbled layer feed but curious if we should switch to a pellet?

And yes! She is such a talker. Especially if she gets separated from the group. Love her she’s so wonderful

 

[MarlaMac]

Crumble or pellet is really a personal choice. I use a crumble (albeit, not layer b/c I have a rooster and sometimes hatches and I need to have on 20% flock raiser which I keep everyone on). I tryed to switch them to pellets b/c less dust, but they wouldn't have it. They followed be aound for days until I gave them back their crumble.

All hens on a layer crumble is fine, although, I would give them the highest % protien one I can find.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes that’s been so tough! We’ve been having a very hard time trying to get them to lay in their nesting boxes. Trying to ensure she’s comfortable! We will get that supplement and oysters today. We’ve been feeding them a crumbled layer feed but curious if we should switch to a pellet?

And yes! She is such a talker. Especially if she gets separated from the group. Love her she’s so wonderful

They will figure out boxes (or not LOL). As long as they lay eggs where I can find them, I don't really worry about the eggs being in nesting boxes, sometimes they may choose a corner tucked in the back of the coop.

Pellet/Crumble is a personal choice and depends on what your flock likes to eat. I've found I have less waste with pellets and my flock will eat that, so that's what I use, but crumbles work fine too.

 

[PonchosGals]

Crumble or pellet is really a personal choice. I use a crumble (albeit, not layer b/c I have a rooster and sometimes hatches and I need to have on 20% flock raiser which I keep everyone on). I tryed to switch them to pellets b/c less dust, but they wouldn't have it. They followed be aound for days until I gave them back their crumble.

All hens on a layer crumble is fine, although, I would give them the highest % protien one I can find.

LOL! They are so funny. Thank you again for your help, I really appreciate it!!