Sick hen. Panting. Not pooping.

[Withachickchickhere]

A few days ago I noticed that my laying, Buff Orpington had a messy bottom. Today she secluded herself in the coop for hours. First on the roosting bar, then in the nesting box. I can't prove that she isn't laying, but we have been 1 egg shy of the norm all week. I gave her a bath and put her in the spare bedroom. She was eating last night. No poop in her crate this morning and now she is panting. Her crop felt a little mushy yesterday. Maybe because she isn't eating a whole lot? I don't know what to do to help her. I'm not even 100% sure of the diagnoses.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Would you be able to post some pics of the chicken and her bum please? It may help to see her body language and what is soiling her vent area. Does it look like poop or is it yellow??
When bathing her did you check for an egg?? If not, lube up a gloved finger and insert 1 - 2 inches to check for an egg. If she is egg bound you will feel the egg. If you feel an egg this is serious and she will need help to pass the egg straight away.
If she is not egg bound I would suspect either a crop issue or a reproductive issue.
To check her crop function: Keep food and water away from her tonight, then first thing in the morning before she eats or drinks anything, feel her crop (on right side of her breast below her neckline) It should be completely empty. During the day and until roosting time the crop should have food and water in it and can feel soft, hard, squishy and all kinds of ways. But first thing in the morning it should be empty. If it is not empty there is a problem.

Also, have a feel of her abdomen to check for bloating or swelling, does it feel like there is any fluid in her belly? Cup your hand underneath her and feel from between her legs up to her vent area. Reproductive issues can cause swelling and/or fluid (ascitis).

I would begin by giving her some calcium in case she is having laying issues. Half a human caltrate would do fine. I would also give her a boost of vitamins such as Poultry nutri drench. Do you have these available?

 

[Withachickchickhere]

Would you be able to post some pics of the chicken and her bum please? It may help to see her body language and what is soiling her vent area. Does it look like poop or is it yellow??
When bathing her did you check for an egg?? If not, lube up a gloved finger and insert 1 - 2 inches to check for an egg. If she is egg bound you will feel the egg. If you feel an egg this is serious and she will need help to pass the egg straight away.
If she is not egg bound I would suspect either a crop issue or a reproductive issue.
To check her crop function: Keep food and water away from her tonight, then first thing in the morning before she eats or drinks anything, feel her crop (on right side of her breast below her neckline) It should be completely empty. During the day and until roosting time the crop should have food and water in it and can feel soft, hard, squishy and all kinds of ways. But first thing in the morning it should be empty. If it is not empty there is a problem.

Also, have a feel of her abdomen to check for bloating or swelling, does it feel like there is any fluid in her belly? Cup your hand underneath her and feel from between her legs up to her vent area. Reproductive issues can cause swelling and/or fluid (ascitis).

I would begin by giving her some calcium in case she is having laying issues. Half a human caltrate would do fine. I would also give her a boost of vitamins such as Poultry nutri drench. Do you have these available?

I will see if my hubby can send me a pic. I had to work. I gave her a bath last night. It appeared to just be poop. I did not check for an egg, but I will as soon as possible. I can get calcium tablets. For now, I have mixed oyster shells into her food and have her seperated.

 

[staceyj]

There could be a couple of different paths here you’ll need to explore.

Crop issue? Egg binding? Worms? Vent gleet?


And considering that she’s a buff Orpington, a breed known to be prone to broodiness, (and since it’s springtime) she may be going broody.

Is she clucking, growling, complaining, fluffing up, trying to bite if you you touch her, or when taken off the nest, fanning out her feathers like a turkey?

A Broody hen might not feel like eating, choose to stay in the coop on the nest or be off by themselves in a nest they make or even just an impression in the dirt under a bush and they might only poop once or twice a day. They are generally BIG and super smelly.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

A few days ago I noticed that my laying, Buff Orpington had a messy bottom. Today she secluded herself in the coop for hours. First on the roosting bar, then in the nesting box. I can't prove that she isn't laying, but we have been 1 egg shy of the norm all week. I gave her a bath and put her in the spare bedroom. She was eating last night. No poop in her crate this morning and now she is panting. Her crop felt a little mushy yesterday. Maybe because she isn't eating a whole lot? I don't know what to do to help her. I'm not even 100% sure of the diagnoses.

I will see if my hubby can send me a pic. I had to work. I gave her a bath last night. It appeared to just be poop. I did not check for an egg, but I will as soon as possible. I can get calcium tablets. For now, I have mixed oyster shells into her food and have her seperated.

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.

I would check her for an egg, asap if there was not poop in the crate at all overnight.
Lubricate the vent and feel inside about 1-2". If she is not pooping at all, then she needs to be tended to quickly. If you have vet care that is always best.

The panting is concerning, I would take a gamble that she is distressed. I would not soak her again if she is in poor shape, that may send her over the edge. Place her in steamed up bathroom or on moist heat (heating pad) but monitor her for overheating.
Getting her hydrated would be very important, but careful she doesn't aspirate. Calcium next - you can use TUMS, 1/2 caltrate tablet.

If you feel no egg, feel of the abdomen for bloat/swelling or fluid. She may be having a reproductive problem like Internal Laying, Egg Yolk Peritonitis or similar.

Keep us posted.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with checking for an egg and giving water, lots of water to drink. Give the calcium. Waterever you do, do not withhold water from her. If you do not have calcium tablets or Tums/Rolaids, take an egg, break the shell and add the shell to a food processor and grind with some egg yolk or the whole egg (cooked or raw.) One egg shell equals a human calcium tablet. The yolk has vitamin D which is also needed.

 

[Withachickchickhere]

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.

I would check her for an egg, asap if there was not poop in the crate at all overnight.
Lubricate the vent and feel inside about 1-2". If she is not pooping at all, then she needs to be tended to quickly. If you have vet care that is always best.

The panting is concerning, I would take a gamble that she is distressed. I would not soak her again if she is in poor shape, that may send her over the edge. Place her in steamed up bathroom or on moist heat (heating pad) but monitor her for overheating.
Getting her hydrated would be very important, but careful she doesn't aspirate. Calcium next - you can use TUMS, 1/2 caltrate tablet.

If you feel no egg, feel of the abdomen for bloat/swelling or fluid. She may be having a reproductive problem like Internal Laying, Egg Yolk Peritonitis or similar.

Keep us posted.

Hubby did the deed and checked for an egg. He said he couldn't feel anything. He said she had pooped and it looked normal. She was up eating and drinking at 9A. I will feel very silly if she is just going broody my girls get layer pellets, a cup of scratch grains/day and oyster shells at choice. They free range and get some kitchen scraps, but only fresh fruits and veggies. I never thought I would be ao worried about one of my chickens!

 

[Withachickchickhere]

There could be a couple of different paths here you’ll need to explore.

Crop issue? Egg binding? Worms? Vent gleet?


And considering that she’s a buff Orpington, a breed known to be prone to broodiness, (and since it’s springtime) she may be going broody.

Is she clucking, growling, complaining, fluffing up, trying to bite if you you touch her, or when taken off the nest, fanning out her feathers like a turkey?

A Broody hen might not feel like eating, choose to stay in the coop on the nest or be off by themselves in a nest they make or even just an impression in the dirt under a bush and they might only poop once or twice a day. They are generally BIG and super smelly.

She was all fluffed up in her nesting box, but didn't try to bite me when I took her off of her nest, but she did grumble a little bit. Her crop was a little mushy. I gave her syringe water with ACV and tried to "burp" her, but she didn't throw up or anything. I could feel grit in her crop. Her comb is nice and red. I do not know if she is bloated, because I'm not sure what normal should feel like. She is a big fluffy, girl.

 

[Eggcessive]

Since she has been spending time in the nest box, you might also check to see if she could be going broody. They do get growly if you remove them, and some have a puffy crop. They pluck out feathers on their chests to sit on eggs.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hubby did the deed and checked for an egg. He said he couldn't feel anything. He said she had pooped and it looked normal. She was up eating and drinking at 9A. I will feel very silly if she is just going broody my girls get layer pellets, a cup of scratch grains/day and oyster shells at choice. They free range and get some kitchen scraps, but only fresh fruits and veggies. I never thought I would be ao worried about one of my chickens!

It's good that you checked for an egg!
Great that's she's eating/drinking too.

O.k. if she pooped and he didn't mention something like "stinks so bad I thought I would die and it was huge to boot" I still wouldn't bet that she's broody, they usually only poop once a day and you wonder how they do it!

Is she still panting? I would still monitor her crop, see if it's empty in the morning before she eats/drinks.
Compare her abdomen to other hens you have - cup your hand and feel below the vent between the legs, it should be fairly soft and pliable, no hardness, no feeling of fullness or fluid.

If she is indeed broody, no harm done but some ruffled feathers