Silkie not laying, bad smell, stands upright

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Hi, I have a 2 yr old Silkie that hasn't laid (well possible 1 or 2 eggs as a pullet but nothing since) She has a disgusting smell from her fluffy butt so I gave her a wash but she's still smelly. She also stands sort-of upright compared to my other hens. See pic. She is also slow moving, never a fast pace. She eats and drinks fine and is high in the pecking order. She may be a little skinny but seems to always eat plenty. She also has sometimes a weird jerky neck movement. .. I'm kinda thinking some neurological problem? Dunno about the smell though, my other chickens never smell.
Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[RainbowHen]

Photos of her rear/vent area?. Any unusual poops or discharge?

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

There was just a little bit of poop on her fluffy butt I cleaned up but she's clean and fluffy apart from that. She has normal looking poop.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Oh and I forgot to mention she's never been broody! -Which is something that would usually happen quite often for a silkie as you probably would know. But I guess if she's not laying she wouldn't go broody.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Wonder if she could be eggbound or internally laying. Sounds like a question for @Wyorp Rock or @Eggcessive.

 

[nao57]

IF you can't identify the problem after trying what they tell you above, you may have to go into the feathers (yeah not easy or fun) and look over the skin with a fine toothed comb to check for injuries along the skin, etc. (She won't like this and you might need a second person to help hold her while you do this.)

I would do what the others say first.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Does she feel full or swollen in the area between her legs or in her belly? Also, is her crop empty in the morning before she has access to food and water? You might need to crate her at night in order to check first thing in the morning. And if you do this, you could put a puppy pee pad or similar under her so you can post a picture of her poop. Nobody is offended by poop around here, and it can be diagnostic. One final thing, if you are up to it: if you can insert a finger into her vent up to one joint, can you feel an egg in there? Use an exam glove if you have one, and a little petroleum jelly wouldn't hurt.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Does she feel full or swollen in the area between her legs or in her belly? Also, is her crop empty in the morning before she has access to food and water? You might need to crate her at night in order to check first thing in the morning. And if you do this, you could put a puppy pee pad or similar under her so you can post a picture of her poop. Nobody is offended by poop around here, and it can be diagnostic. One final thing, if you are up to it: if you can insert a finger into her vent up to one joint, can you feel an egg in there? Use an exam glove if you have one, and a little petroleum jelly wouldn't hurt.

Ok I'll feel between her legs/belly tomorrow and try to take a pic of her poop but will have to crate her tomorrow night for overnight poop and crop.. Not sure if I can do the vent thing though, maybe a bit too invasive for my comfort.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would look her over really well see if she's got lice/mites, see if there is a discharge from the vent and check her crop to make sure it's emptying overnight.

Try to figure out where the odor is coming from.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Ok I'll feel between her legs/belly tomorrow and try to take a pic of her poop but will have to crate her tomorrow night for overnight poop and crop.. Not sure if I can do the vent thing though, maybe a bit too invasive for my comfort.

See poop pic (I just caught her doing it on the rocky path so it's a bit hard to see) She ranges with the rest of my silkies on grass under trees and has access to the coop area with grower feed anytime.
I tried to check between her legs, just fluffy and flat, can't feel any lumps or bumps or squish.
The smell comes from her bottom, and sometimes it's really just so bad I have to get away!