Pasty butt in older hen?

[biddyboo]

I've been searching info on pasty butt, most of which refers to the condition in young chicks. Is it reasonable to find the problem with an older hen? We've had our BO hen a year, and she's probably 2-2 1/2 years old. She's been quiet the past few days, but then today I saw her hunched over, feathers fluffed, and I noticed her backside was covered in a dark, crusty, awfully smelly hard poo. Her breast bone is sharp as though she has lost weight (not noticed because of fluffed feathers), but her crop feels soft. Her comb has always been flopped over, but now it's pinkish instead of the red it normally is. I've clipped and cleaned the poo mess around her vent; she was quiet and didn't fuss at all, probably glad to get it cleaned. She's isolated in a large dog crate with straw bedding, water with a T of vinegar, and a small saucer of plain yogurt along with her regular mash. Am I on the right track or should I be doing anything different? Thanks for all suggestions here. Of course, she's a sweet hen, and I hope to help her mend. ~G

 

[luvzmychickens]

ok dont get to worried right now, foccus on gettin' her better. i had this happen to one of my australorps. #1. is she used to bein' around other chickens? if so, isolating her may cause her to panic and that will just make her worse so keep a close eye on her to make sure thats not the case. #2. make sure her vent is completely clean. #3. i know this will be gross and uncomfertable for both of you, but take "patrolium jelly" to lubricate her butt hole. (this will make it easier for her to lay and poop) this is most likely something that is called "clogged" this means that she has an egg stuck in her, she NEEDS to pass this egg or it will kill her. hopefully she will get better, if she gets does get better she will probably, not lay consisitantly, her egg shells will be soft, and her eggs will be bigger. hope this helps!!!!!!!

 

[biddyboo]

Thanks for the quick reply, lovesmychickens! Your post is encouraging. While separated, Mildred is still very close to her sisters in their pen in the barn, so she doesn't appear too anxious so far at her lone crate. Since cleaning her pasty butt earlier today was SO gross and smelly, now that it's clean, applying the petroleum jelly to the vent won't seem daunting at all. I'll go out and do this soon in hopes that if it is a matter of needing to pass an egg, perhaps that will happen overnight now that she is cleaned up. Thanks again. Are there any other suggestions from the forum? ~G

 

[chookchick]

Yes, she does sound Eggbound. I would keep her in a dark, warm spot to stop the laying cycle (could be crate in coop). Give her a 1/2 tums crushed in plain yogurt (or wet mash if she'll eat it) for a calcium "boost". You can give her a nice warm bath to help her lay. Here is a great thread on eggbound hens:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/90/mareks-disease
If you use vinegar--it needs to be organic apple cider vinegar, only 1 tab per gallon, in plastic container. Has she been wormed at all in last few months?

 

[Chickengirl209]

Yes, she does sound Eggbound. I would keep her in a dark, warm spot to stop the laying cycle (could be crate in coop). Give her a 1/2 tums crushed in plain yogurt (or wet mash if she'll eat it) for a calcium "boost". You can give her a nice warm bath to help her lay. Here is a great thread on eggbound hens:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/90/mareks-disease
If you use vinegar--it needs to be organic apple cider vinegar, only 1 tab per gallon, in plastic container. Has she been wormed at all in last few months?

Hey! I have a chicken that has something similar to this. I recently wormed her. Why would worming matter?