New to group ~ hello! So thankful for everything I’ve learned here the last few years. Hoping for some guidance. Brief history first.
In 2018, we adopted a flock of Australorps from a small working farm down the road bc they were planning to cull them and we had an empty coop. Because they were raised for eggs on a working farm, they were never socialized or touched. I’ve tried to get them more used to being handled, and though I can tell they know and love me, handling them still *really* stresses them out. The 3 we have left are either 9 or 10 years old, and limited handling makes caring for them when they get sick tricky.
Lola (hen of concern) started with a slightly messy bottom a week or so ago. She and another hen had just started laying again (I know!!) and it looked like a little dirty egg poo. One is laying normal sized eggs, one is laying pretty small eggs.
Sunday night, my husband turned coop shavings and said there was some yellow stuff that looked like egg yolk under where she roosts. We got a lot of rain yesterday ~ her bum looked fluffier and like she had been cleaning it. She’s been acting normal and continuing to lay, so I decided to keep a close eye on her, hoping she was working through whatever was going on.
Today I saw her go poop. It was her typical poop ~ small, brown and smelly ~ looks like cecal poop on Chicken Chick site. When she pushed and her bum feathers parted, I saw just how messy she is. There’s one big dirty thing hanging below vent ~ teardrop shaped, small at the top and round the on bottom. I don’t know if an egg cracked inside her or if it was one of those weird, yucky eggs. There wasn’t any yellow discharge, but area looked a little wet. She’s acting normal, eating and drinking, comb bright red.
I know I should bathe her, but it’s too cold outside and there is *no* chance I can bring her inside (agreement with hubby). Plus, the stress. Only avian vet in area is a solid 45-50 minutes away. Last visit cost $350 ~ to examine and then euthanize hen. On a year long, unpaid medical leave from work ~ can’t afford to bring Lola. Plus, the stress.
I don’t know what it might be or what to do. Any suggestions? I love these 3 little hens so much.
Thank you!!
In 2018, we adopted a flock of Australorps from a small working farm down the road bc they were planning to cull them and we had an empty coop. Because they were raised for eggs on a working farm, they were never socialized or touched. I’ve tried to get them more used to being handled, and though I can tell they know and love me, handling them still *really* stresses them out. The 3 we have left are either 9 or 10 years old, and limited handling makes caring for them when they get sick tricky.
Lola (hen of concern) started with a slightly messy bottom a week or so ago. She and another hen had just started laying again (I know!!) and it looked like a little dirty egg poo. One is laying normal sized eggs, one is laying pretty small eggs.
Sunday night, my husband turned coop shavings and said there was some yellow stuff that looked like egg yolk under where she roosts. We got a lot of rain yesterday ~ her bum looked fluffier and like she had been cleaning it. She’s been acting normal and continuing to lay, so I decided to keep a close eye on her, hoping she was working through whatever was going on.
Today I saw her go poop. It was her typical poop ~ small, brown and smelly ~ looks like cecal poop on Chicken Chick site. When she pushed and her bum feathers parted, I saw just how messy she is. There’s one big dirty thing hanging below vent ~ teardrop shaped, small at the top and round the on bottom. I don’t know if an egg cracked inside her or if it was one of those weird, yucky eggs. There wasn’t any yellow discharge, but area looked a little wet. She’s acting normal, eating and drinking, comb bright red.
I know I should bathe her, but it’s too cold outside and there is *no* chance I can bring her inside (agreement with hubby). Plus, the stress. Only avian vet in area is a solid 45-50 minutes away. Last visit cost $350 ~ to examine and then euthanize hen. On a year long, unpaid medical leave from work ~ can’t afford to bring Lola. Plus, the stress.
I don’t know what it might be or what to do. Any suggestions? I love these 3 little hens so much.
Thank you!!
Last edited:
). There’s a red thing I’m concerned about.
