I have a Jersey Giant that today we noticed she is walking real slow and she is molting and has lost her rear feathers, when we try to check her rear for any problems I don't know what I am looking for, she is real sensitive in one area of her rear.... never checked a chicks rear before and I hate to say but really don't know where the egg comes out at.... we only see one hole back there.... I don't know if her bowels are backed up or if she has a egg stuck.... I don't feel anything hard back there. Please someone with any advice would be great, I thin she is about 1.5 years old
There is only one hole. The egg path and the fecal path meet just before the vent, or hole. You didn't give much information. There is a sticky thread at the beginning of this section to help you give information that would help. First two thoughts are lice/mites and worms. If an egg is stuck you will probably feel a swelling or hard lump. She could also be an internal layer, which you really can't fix. Lots of info on here. Usually they don't lay when molting. It's always a good idea to treat regularly for worms and lice/mites, in my opinion; most chickens have at least some. But the treatments are stressful, and molting is, too. Perhaps you need to do some reading on her then decide what course you want to take next. Here are some threads and sites that might help: http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=414733 https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1198 The last one is the FAQ page here, with links to some great information. Good luck.
Thank you DDawn for your advice, I have checked her thourly for mites and there are no signs.... I have 60 chickens and she is the only one acting this way, I explained everything I see wrong with her, I did bring her inside in a cage for a while so I can monitor her closer and she does not appear to want to eat or drink so we have been giving her water with electrolites in it through a dropper, her bowel movement is runny and yellow, I am thinking maybe a egg has ruptured inside from other links I have read, does anyone know how I can help her get all the egg out, I have read in the past where sometimes if all the egg does not come out that they can get infection from it.... she has always been a great egg layer even through the moulting season.... I know none of my other chicks will lay eggs during this time but I guess this breed is different,,, If anyone else has any other ideas it would be greatly appreciated.
