Strange thing in nest box. Should I worry? Icky picture.

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Thank you I did find that in my furious reading this morning.
It is all so very sad. And they are so young. Only 18 months old.
Everyone seems well and enjoying themselves digging holes which is their main hobby.
For a moment I was convinced it was Maggie because she was sitting up on the roost all on her own. But as I opened the run she came flying down and was all over me for a treat. It does look like she had a bit of diarrhea so I need to clean her bum. But not real bad.
I also saw Diana have a liquid poop but just one.
I will keep an eagle eye on everyone and try and figure out who.
I am feeling very sad right now.

More hugs if they help RC
Hoping for the best for your girls.

 

[Shadrach]

I read elsewhere that you think you know who is laying the lash eggs. Just wondering if there is any other news (?)

 

[RoyalChick]

Update today. I used the camera to find first hen in the next box (Diana at 5:45am) and she laid a perfect egg. I assume she wouldn't do that if it was her who laid the lash egg yesterday (is that right?).
Not long after Elizabeth went in and took her time about laying anther perfect egg.
So that leaves Maggie unless we believe the young ladies who have not yet got to point of lay could be leaving them.
Maggie went into the nest box around noon but didn't lay anything and is now out and running around again.
So I think all signs point to Maggie.

 

[coach723]

All of mine with salpingitis did not lay eggs anymore, the infection stopped it. They would sometimes sit as if they were going to. I imagine that it might feel to them like they need to lay something. So it does seem that it may be her. It also may be the cause of her having a dirty vent, it can make it harder to push droppings out. You will need to make sure she doesn't become a victim of fly strike on top of it, if the droppings continue to stick to her vent feathers.
You may be able to feel a difference in her abdomen compared to the others, depending on how advanced it is. As it gets worse mine have all had very firm, bloated abdomens and they end up walking with a very wide legged waddle if they live long enough, due to the matter building up in their abdomen.

 

[RoyalChick]

All of mine with salpingitis did not lay eggs anymore, the infection stopped it. They would sometimes sit as if they were going to. I imagine that it might feel to them like they need to lay something. So it does seem that it may be her. It also may be the cause of her having a dirty vent, it can make it harder to push droppings out. You will need to make sure she doesn't become a victim of fly strike on top of it, if the droppings continue to stick to her vent feathers.
You may be able to feel a difference in her abdomen compared to the others, depending on how advanced it is. As it gets worse mine have all had very firm, bloated abdomens and they end up walking with a very wide legged waddle if they live long enough, due to the matter building up in their abdomen.

Thank you for that information. Helpful. She does not have a dirty vent. She had a few wisps of poo on some of her feathers but I noticed this morning those are all cleaned off. Her vent looks normal. I will try and feel her again tonight but she hasn't felt any different to me the last few days and she certainly isn't waddling. It is good to know to look out for these things however.