Pooping small rocks - Contains necropsy photos (GRAPHIC)

[chitownhens]

I have a hen that was ill about a month ago so I brought her into the house. She didn't eat or drink for about 3 days then all of a sudden she passed a large object then proceeded to poop about 12 times within an hour. It seems like the object created a blockage.

Now the same hen is ill again for the last 3 days and I have her inside and I hear what sounds like little rocks dropping on to the floor. It was her pooping and she seems to have livened up a bit and started to eat some watermelon. Any guesses on what it might be? Maybe she just ate the wrong thing not really sure. The bottom picture is of the small rocks from today the date code was not set. She has really perked up and I'm trying to figure it out.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could be something like kidney stones.

 

[chitownhens]

Kidney stones...........hmmm........they seem kind of large for a hen. She keeps passing more and more probably about 20 so far. I have a feeling she was eating rocks or something.......is that possible..........wouldn't the gizzard grind it up? Seems really strange.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've never seen them pass the rocks used in the gizzards, my understanding is they get smaller and smaller until they are passed and new ones are consumed. Hopefully someone has a better idea for you. I am curious too.

 

[RodNTN]

Some kind of blockage? Not 100% sure :/

 

[RodNTN]

Curious too.

 

[coach723]

Curious......did you cut open the mass in the middle picture to see what was in it?
Hopefully she will successfully pass whatever has caused this. In the interim I would be cautious about feeding her anything too fiberous (like greens). I'd stick with water soluble foods so that if she is struggling to pass something it doesn't get further gummed up. And make sure she is staying well hydrated, getting dehydrated will not help matters move along. They have access to grit all the time? An x-ray might help to identify the issue. Does she free range? You might need to do some looking around to see what she's getting into. Hope she recovers, like everyone else, I'm curious.

 

[chitownhens]

Curious......did you cut open the mass in the middle picture to see what was in it?
Hopefully she will successfully pass whatever has caused this. In the interim I would be cautious about feeding her anything too fiberous (like greens). I'd stick with water soluble foods so that if she is struggling to pass something it doesn't get further gummed up. And make sure she is staying well hydrated, getting dehydrated will not help matters move along. They have access to grit all the time? An x-ray might help to identify the issue. Does she free range? You might need to do some looking around to see what she's getting into. Hope she recovers, like everyone else, I'm curious.

Well they are city chickens so not much free ranging but plenty of green cuttings from a local produce store which are finely chopped up. They all eat the same food so I'm not sure what her issue is but she has perked up and I expect her to be 100% by tomorrow.

That larger mass in the second picture was from about a month ago and I tossed it once it dried up. It almost looked like a chicken heart, not sure what it was though.

I was starting to worry because the 3 day mark when they are not eating and/or drinking seems to be a defining point but she seems to be doing both now.

Was just curious if anyone had experienced it before.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@casportpony

 

[casportpony]

Never seen anything quite like it. Can you save all of her droppings and get pictures of them all?