Pullet stopped laying and has poopy butt

[CJS Flock]

Hoping you all can help me here. My Sheena is 8 months old and started laying back on Dec. she was laying nearly every day, large green eggs. She hasn’t laid in about 3 weeks and about two weeks ago started moving a little slow and had nasty poop. I gave her and everyone else Valbazen since I saw a few foamy poops in the run. She didn’t seem to improve after a few days so I brought her in washed her, soaked her and checked for any runny stuff from her vent. She was really not eating and didnt run from me when I brought her in. After about a week she seemed better and was eating so I put her back out with the flock. I gave everyone the second round of Valbazen at 10 days. It’s been about a week now and she”s back to having poopy butt and moving slow. This time however, she does run from me, is eating and foraging. Checked her crop and it’s full tonight. Was able to catch these photos about 30 minutes ago. She pooped right after her glamour shot and then I caught her, brought her in and washed her bottom. Attached are photos of her, her poop and her vent. Any ideas what may be going on? Everyone else has been fine. I’ve checked for parasites and do so every time I pick one of them up, including her. Nothing that I can see in the daylight or at night. Bedding is changed weekly and house is sprayed with permethrin and dried before bedding is placed back in. I’m at a loss. We had a cockerel that I thought may be stressing everyone out, but rehomed him two weeks ago. Not hatching, so didn’t need a roo (hatchery oopsie). Can you all take a look at the photos and offer some insight or thoughts on what to do next? I’ve also put probiotics in their water twice weekly. Feed is nutrena smart layer. Appreciate any help or suggestions you have!

 

[azygous]

Those symptoms are puzzling, all right. Her poop is off just enough to be concerning, and her behavior is off just enough to be concerning. The fact that she hasn't laid in three weeks points to a reproductive issue. Those are usually serious and can include internal laying and chronic infection.

So, what to treat for? There's no treatment for internal laying unless you want to dedicate a large chunk of your budget to an avian vet for surgery to clean her out and install a hormone implant to prevent ovulation. But you can treat for infection at a fraction of the cost and see if that makes her better.

You can find Fish Mox 250mg which is amoxicillin without a prescription, at pet stores or online. The treatment is one capsule a day for ten days.

 

[CJS Flock]

Those symptoms are puzzling, all right. Her poop is off just enough to be concerning, and her behavior is off just enough to be concerning. The fact that she hasn't laid in three weeks points to a reproductive issue. Those are usually serious and can include internal laying and chronic infection.

So, what to treat for? There's no treatment for internal laying unless you want to dedicate a large chunk of your budget to an avian vet for surgery to clean her out and install a hormone implant to prevent ovulation. But you can treat for infection at a fraction of the cost and see if that makes her better.

You can find Fish Mox 250mg which is amoxicillin without a prescription, at pet stores or online. The treatment is one capsule a day for ten days.

Thank you! I’ll see if I can get some Fish Mox and try that first.

 

[CJS Flock]

Thank you! I’ll see if I can get some Fish Mox and try that first.

She’s on day 7 of antibiotics and no positive change. I’ve noticed that even though she eats, she feels like she’s losing weight. I have a feeling she is past improving at this point and it may be time to make the decision to call it. She’s really not living her best chicken life at this point.

 

[azygous]

You've done what you can. I call it quits when a chicken doesn't show any improvement or declines decidedly. The decision to call it quits is the most difficult part.