Stomach gurgling/ tiny poo/ strange behaviors.

[MgnRose]

Hi, everyone. Today my BO Dorothy wouldn’t come out from under a bush when called (she usually comes running when she hears kissy noises), even when offered her beloved blueberries. I put the ladies into their run early (they free range during the day) and she attacked one of the other ladies which is rare. I did a health check- comb is bright red, vent in clear, mouth smells fine, crop isn’t full but feels firm. I have her isolated with electrolytes and her stomach is making gurgling sounds, her poo is TINY, and she’s talking to me using sounds she’s never made before. Usually she’s a snuggly, loving bird and she’s definitely acting off- not wanting to be touched, not wanting to crawl into my lap for loves, chats, or berries. She’s moving slower than usual, but not laying down, puffing up, penguin walking, I am at a loss of what would be going on. Any ideas? She’s a really special bird and I would hate to lose her.

 

[azygous]

Do her vocals sound more muted and rapid than normal? When she's touched, does she hunch and fluff and sort of flatten herself? Does she have feathers missing along her keel bone? Do the other chickens find her behavior annoying and peck at her?

If the answer to the above questions are all "yes", it very possible your hen is going broody. She was probably making a broody nest in that bush. Check it for eggs.

 

[MgnRose]

Do her vocals sound more muted and rapid than normal? When she's touched, does she hunch and fluff and sort of flatten herself? Does she have feathers missing along her keel bone? Do the other chickens find her behavior annoying and peck at her?

If the answer to the above questions are all "yes", it very possible your hen is going broody. She was probably making a broody nest in that bush. Check it for eggs.

Thank you for responding! Answer is no to all of the questions. Vocalizations are in the different tone and elongated, no flattening- just being aloof. The other ladies are ignoring her. The bush she was under is the bush the girls prefer to relax under when it’s hot, but it’s a cool day today. She wasn’t out foraging with the other ladies, just standing under the bush by herself.

I’m totally at a loss of what could be going on! I have never heard gurgling sounds from a chicken- it happened when I was hand feeding and was definitely coming from the back end.

 

[azygous]

The tiny poop could be a sign she's constipated. So could the gurgling. She's likely very uncomfortable, thus the uncustomary behavior.

It won't harm her to give her a teaspoon of oil. Or you could give her a molasses flush, which would stimulate the intestines to push material through and out.

I use chilled coconut oil and put the little pieces directly into the beak.

The flush is one-fourth cup water with one-teaspoon of molasses stirred in. Remove her plain water and let her work on the molasses water until she drinks it all.

There is always a stool softener like Dulcolax (not the laxative). One gel cap into the beak and provide plenty of water after. Also offer grit.

 

[MgnRose]

The tiny poop could be a sign she's constipated. So could the gurgling. She's likely very uncomfortable, thus the uncustomary behavior.

It won't harm her to give her a teaspoon of oil. Or you could give her a molasses flush, which would stimulate the intestines to push material through and out.

I use chilled coconut oil and put the little pieces directly into the beak.

The flush is one-fourth cup water with one-teaspoon of molasses stirred in. Remove her plain water and let her work on the molasses water until she drinks it all.

There is always a stool softener like Dulcolax (not the laxative). One gel cap into the beak and provide plenty of water after. Also offer grit.

I never thought about constipation! I’ll pick up some molasses tomorrow and hopefully she’ll get some relief. Thank you for your insight

 

[MgnRose]

This morning she’s in classic is penguin, puffed up chicken stance leading me to think she’s egg bound Looks like Dorothy will be spending the day in an epson bath.

 

[azygous]

Epsom salt bath may or may not benefit Dorothy's condition. But it would be best to soak her for no more than fifteen minutes, dry her off, and place her in a crate on some old towels. But first give her a calcium supplement that you may already have on hand.

I prefer calcium citrate around 600mg, but if all you have is Tums, it will do. Give her a tablet directly in her beak. Then let her rest quietly. The calcium will increase the strength of her contractions and enable the egg to come out more easily.

Observe her vent. Is it dripping fluids? Is it swollen and does it appear to be prolapsing. These need to be watched.

Be sure she has plenty of fresh water to drink as dehydration would make things much worse. If she's dripping fluids from her vent, she will drink a lot of water.

 

[MgnRose]

She’s definitely egg bound- it’s about 1 inch from her vent exit. She’s in a bath now and has had calcium. Is there anything I can lube the vent with besides vegetable oil or Vaseline? We have mineral, vitamin E, castor, coconut, and olive oil- as well as bag balm.

 

[azygous]

Castor oil is nice and thick and seems to stay better where it's put. If you can rig a heating pad under a moist towel, that can provide moist heat which can help relax the cloaca.

Keeping stress low, hydrating, preventing dehydration, and lubricating the vent will all help. Another thing that can help is to use an oral syringe to inject a little sterile water just inside the vent tissue in front of the egg. You could also use raw egg white instead of water to make a very slimy exit for the stubborn egg.

 

[MgnRose]

Thank you for your advice. She’s not letting me apply castor oil to her vent. I think she’s in a lot of pain because she’s usually very easy to handle. Is there anything else I can do? Watching her struggle is heartbreaking.