RIR Acting Lethargic - Please help

[Starburst]

Hi, everyone! I have a problem, and I could really use some help. My Rhode Island Red, Ponyo, is acting really strange. This morning, she was sitting in the coop, a little ways from the nesting box. I thought she may be laying, but she didn’t lay anything.
Ponyo is three years old, and before now, has generally been extremely healthy. She is also a very active hen, but today she is more fluffed up than normal and just standing by herself in the corner. I also noted that her comb was darker than usual, with a purple hue.
I tried letting them out to free-range to see how she would react, as she loves free-ranging, but nothing.
She did eat a little treat, but other than that, she’s been standing still, letting out these soft clucksI don’t know what’s going on...maybe she’s egg bound, or something else?A fly was on her comb, not sure why I’m letting you know, but want to give all the details.
Her fluff around her vent does have some poop on it, which is usual, despite cleaning it often.
She currently lives with 6 other chickens in a roomy coop and run, often free-ranges.
I do have a small problem with rats, but they don’t live in the coop, just in some tree roots that are in the run.
I don’t know what is happening, but anything would help. Thank you.
Some pictures:

Her butt fluff:

Found this weird dropping where she had been sitting in the run:

Coop setup

@Eggcessive, @aart, @sourland...? Sorry, I don’t know who to tag right now. Maybe I’m just overreacting? Regardless, thank you for any help you can give.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

@azygous @SulkyBantam @Sally PB @TwoCrows? (just trying to get more people who could help)

 

[aart]

Her fluff around her vent does have some poop on it, which is usual, despite cleaning it often.

How long has that been going on?

What all and how exactly do you feed?

When's the last time she laid an egg?


When I have a bird that is acting 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[Sally PB]

I don't know enough to help, but here are some questions you could answer to give more information.

Did you check for an egg inside her vent to see if she's egg bound?
What exactly do you feed, including treats?
Could she have eaten anything poisonous or moldy?
Has she been vaccinated for Marek's?

 

[Starburst]

How long has that been going on?

What all and how exactly do you feed?

When's the last time she laid an egg?


When I have a bird that is acting 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

I only noticed this today. I feed Scratch and Peck Organic Layer Feed, free choice in a gravity feeder. She’s never been one to eat more than she needs, though. I put the feeder away at night because of the rats. The feeder is placed in the run.
I’m honestly not sure when she layed last - I think she stopped in the winter and hasn’t layer since, but it’s possible she’s layed a few, I suppose.
in the area where the circle is, it’s very hot to the touch, and has an almost balloon like resistance to the touch. This is also the same in between the legs.

 

[azygous]

I am thinking along the same lines as @Sally PB , an egg may be hung up. The reason is her eyes seem bright, and her comb is a good color, in spite of your reporting it was purplish earlier. Comb color can change during the day.

It's a simple matter of slipping a calcium tablet into her beak, the whole tablet, and then see what she does. If a soft egg is hanging up, the calcium will encourage strong contractions so she can get it out. Then she should feel like her old self again.

 

[Starburst]

I don't know enough to help, but here are some questions you could answer to give more information.

Did you check for an egg inside her vent to see if she's egg bound?
What exactly do you feed, including treats?
Could she have eaten anything poisonous or moldy?
Has she been vaccinated for Marek's?

I’ll check to see if there is an egg inside...I feed Scratch and Peck Organic Layer feed, I haven’t been giving too many treats, sometimes a little bit of oats and pumpkin seeds. She also free-ranges.
I don’t think she ate anything weird, but if a neighbor poisoned a rat and she ate it, I suppose? But didn’t see anything like that.
And yes, she was vaccinated for Marek’s.

 

[Starburst]

I put my finger in her. Couldn’t tell if there was an egg. How do you tell? Regardless, this came out. It almost looks like a yolk or something.

 

[azygous]

You will rarely be able to feel an egg. Soft ones get hung up higher up the tract. Give the calcium. It can't hurt her. It will probably help her.

 

[Starburst]

You will rarely be able to feel an egg. Soft ones get hung up higher up the tract. Give the calcium. It can't hurt her. It will probably help her.

Alright - I only have a Calcium capsule/supplement for humans. Can we use that? Wondering if it may be vent gleet?