Reasons for drooping tail besides egg bound?

[Loupup98]

I have a 23 wk old Barred Rock pullet that has had a droopy tail for weeks, now. I do not believe that she is laying, yet, as her comb is not bright red like the other 2 BRs and I am only getting 2 tan eggs per day (they just started laying this week). Mary is double the size of the other 2, absolutely huge, and has always been much larger, even as a chick. I know that egg binding, vent gleet, intestinal parasites can all be causes of tail drooping but I would think if any of those were the problem, it would be obvious by now. She eats and drinks normally, is able to fly up to her roost and walk fine. When I scratch her back, she is able to raise her tail so I dont think it is broken, either. Her comb, wattles, and skin around her eyes have also had a yellowish tinge for a few weeks. At first I thought it may be frostbite setting in but now I dont believe so bc it hasnt gotten better or worse. I am really wondering if this all could be a sign of her organs not being healthy due to her size? She is not lethargic but does seem to breathe heavy when laying on the roost but not when up walking around. Any ideas? Mary is the BR on the right in the group pictures.

 

[Loupup98]

***P.S. Please excuse the poopy poop board and corn, I had just gone in to do chores and threw some corn next to her to keep her up there while I snapped a quick pic of her yellowed comb, haha. Corn and poop were removed soon after the impromptu photo shoot!

 

[micstrachan]

Nobody’s judging the poop and corn.
Can you feel her abdomen (downy, fluffy butt) and see if feels swollen and squishy? Or swollen and tight? Wondering if she has ascites (fluid in abdomen). How often do they get corn? Excess corn and other years can lead to liver disease and causexascites. Of course, there are other things it could be, too.

 

[Loupup98]

Thanks! I will check her, today. They get a sprinkle of corn or scratch mix, depending on what I have on hand, every night when I go in to do chores and tuck them in. I give them about a cup and a half between 17 of them. Not something I will continue once it warms up but we are in SD and its been subzero overnight and many days since December. They are fed free choice Nutrena Naturals Layer pellets, grit and oystershell (separately).

 

[Eggcessive]

They don’t need corn or scratch for cold weather, they just need to eat their balanced layer feed and get their crops full at roost time. Unfortunately, it seems like your pullet might have a liver problem, such as fatty liver disease that has caused the enlarged abdomen. Fatty liver, if that is what she has can have many different causes, such as dietary, obesity, heredity, mycotoxin/aflatoxin poisoning, or others. It might be good to switch to an all flock or flock raiser feed with a little more protein and less calcium. Do put out some crushed oyster shell for calcium for the hens who are laying to take as needed. Here is some reading about fatty liver disease:
https://www.hyline.com/userdocs/pages/TU_FLHS_ENG.pdf

http://www.poultryhub.org/health/disease/types-of-disease/fatty-liver-syndrome/

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/fatty-liver-syndrome

 

[Loupup98]

This is confusing as from what I have seen/heard, it is recommended to give a small amount of whole grains during frigid cold because it takes longer to digest, therefore assisting in keeping their body temp up through the night? Luckily, that will be over by next week, tonight will be -20F and the high tomorrow is -7F. We will be close to the 20s by next weekend, thank goodness! They dont get any other kitchen scraps or treats at all. I pay a lot for their feed so I make sure that that is their main source of nutrition and it doesn't go to waste.
I did check and her abdomen does feel a little soft but not strikingly distended or swollen, compared to my other pullets. Her pelvic bones are only 2 fingers wide, my known layers are 3 or so fingers wide. So I am hoping that is more confirmation that this isn't an egg bound or yolk peritonitis situation. I am also thinking it is a liver issue and probably genetic as I got them as day old chicks and she has always been twice as big as all of the others and I had wondered if that would lead to health issues down the road, like with broilers due to their size. None of my other chickens are exhibiting any symptoms like this, so I am hoping that rules out any environmental factors (toxins/parasites/diet/etc.). Thank you for the information/links, I will get some reading done tonight!