Watery Crop, Watery Poos, Laying Issues

[Thorleifur]

My hen is 7 months old, has been laying since 5 months (only taking a day or two off on rare occasion). She has not laid for two days and has been having watery poos. Sometimes no solids, all clear liquid. Today I noticed she was drinking excessive amounts of water which has made her crop look and sound like a water balloon. Her beak drips some water when she is bent over foraging. I tried massaging it, she did not seem to mind.

One watery poop had no solids, all clear liquid except for a small bit of runny yolk. After another watery poo, she passed the yolk which was damaged and partially cooked looking . No shell.

I added oyster shell to the coop (She was getting some daily but just when she was let outside). She gets lots of cherry tomato and cauliflower for treats. She does have an issue with eating paint off of the garage...

Could the egg issue be normal for a one off occurrence? All other behaviors seem normal.

Will see if the crop empties in the morning and if there is a normal egg.

 

[theuglychick]

Hi, so sorry for your troubles.

It sounds like it could be vent gleet.

Here's some information on that so you can better determine if that is or is not what you're dealing with.

Best of luck to you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/vent-gleet-aka-nasty-chicken-butt.64647/

 

[sawilliams]

unfortunately i don't know what is called, but she had an egg break inside her. I don't know that's there is anything you can do. Antibiotics might help but if she doesn't pass all the gunk she may never lay again or may always have issues.

 

[theuglychick]

Sorry to read that. I hope she gets through it.

 

[Thorleifur]

No egg again today. The crop seems to be emptying a bit since her poos have more solids now. Definitely going less now though. She seems less lively and walks around slowly... not her normal spy self. Her tail is lowered so it is almost flat. She was also sitting in the coop on the floor which is abnormal for her.

I withdrew feed today and added apple cider vinegar to the waterer.

 

[Thorleifur]

Still no eggs and it has been nearly a week. Crop seems much better now and she is back on feed and getting some yogurt and regular treats. She does not seem in pain or to be behaving abnormally. I can't feel any bound eggs. Hoping her system is cleared of any egg debris. It it normal for birds to stop laying for periods longer than a couple to a few days?

Her poos are now smaller than normal and have little moisture. She drinks a lot each time at the waterer.

 

[Thorleifur]

Well almost a week later my hen laid a normal egg

Poops are more normal now, too and crop is all better! Glad things worked out for her.

She is loving the yogurt treats!

 

[theuglychick]

Yay!!! That's awesome! So glad she's better.

 

[Thorleifur]

Yay!!! That's awesome! So glad she's better.

Thanks so much!!! She is so happy again and I am less neurotic.

I think her system just needed to recover after laying only a yolk.