Molting Hen with something coming from vent?

[bobchristenson]

I've only had chicks up to this point but we just got a 2.5 year old barred rock that is molting. I've never seen a molting hen but I have a feeling I'm seeing something abnormal.

This hen lived in one place with her 12 'sisters' her whole life. Now she lives with my single hen in a new coop. So I'm afraid stress has caused this...

At night she lays shellless eggs in the pooptray and today I noticed it was mixed with green poop. At the same time I noticed a REALLY messy vent area that looked like it was caked with egg yolk and bedding, so I went to clean it up. What I found wasn't bedding...it was a strand of light brown (pine flake color) coming out of her vent. Long, thin, and maybe 3/4" wide if it was flattened (didn't really look like a 'tube' of any kind)

I looked really closely to see if it looked like something internal coming out and I have to assume it was simply because it didn't look like bedding and I could see it going inside the vent, not to mention I couldnt wipe it off.

What is it? What do I do? Could this be a 'normal' part of the molt or is something wrong?

help!

 

[bobchristenson]

This makes me wonder if it's a membrane from the shell-less eggs she's laying? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/637339/long-white-strand-coming-out-of-vent

This actually makes the most sense...sound right? Should I leave it and let it come out on it's own? What about the green poop?

 

[casportpony]

Could it be some type of worm? I would gently pull it out. Can you take pictures and post them? Sometimes green poop means that they haven't been eating.

 

[delisha]

Taking a picture might be the ticket. It could be anything. It might be a partial soft shell left inside. Stress causes many things in chickens. I had a chicken lay 6 soft shelled eggs in one day. They can be quite perplexing.

 

[bobchristenson]

Well. That was super gross.

I pulled it out and there was quite a bit inside still so thanks for giving that advice. I could see how that might keep her from eating or pooping normally! I was afraid to pull before in case it was part of her insides coming out!

Here's a pic...it sure looks/felt like an undeveloped shell.

 

[casportpony]

Wow, I sure hope she doesn't have more like that. I'd keep a very close eye on that hen and I'd probably treat her as if she were actually egg bound with warm baths and or steam treatments. I might even squirt some OB lube "up there". I read that they have a hard time passing those soft shelled eggs and if she has more, well, you could end up with a very sick hen. Read these links and do some research:
http://www.avianweb.com/eggproblems.html
http://www.avianweb.com/eggbinding.html
http://www.avianweb.com/eggyolkperitonitis.html

Maybe someone with more experience will comment.

 

[casportpony]

Taking a picture might be the ticket. It could be anything. It might be a partial soft shell left inside. Stress causes many things in chickens. I had a chicken lay 6 soft shelled eggs in one day. They can be quite perplexing.

Good to know... I think one of my turkeys layed two the other day. She hasn't layed one shelled egg yet.

 

[delisha]

I would carefully watch her. She is stressed from the new move. This might just be part of the move. Feel her belly and see if it is really hard. You usually can feel an egg bound bird. If it is hard and she is acting weird, Catsportpony made some good suggestions. Warm baths and lubrication. Make sure she is eating and drinking. You might want to switch over to FF for her, it is great for chicks too!.

 

[delisha]

Have you tried FF and putting shells and eggs right in? It hardens the shells pretty quickly.

 

[bobchristenson]

Not sure what FF is?