Watery poo, dirty bottom, bad moult, potential soft shelled eggs or not laying at all. Help??

[NothernChick]

Hello! I've done a few searches on BYC but haven't found anything that I think would help me. I have 4 hens. 2 RIR, 1 Colombian Rock and a Barred Rock. Got them last March as RTL hesn. A few weeks ago I began finding a soft shelled egg outside the nest box about once a week. Wasn't sure who's it was. These eventually began to be eaten and the other day there was one normal shell outside the next box eaten. Great. That's one issue. Then I've noticed some watery poos. Again not sure who and again not overly concerned. But this morning I went out to collect the eggs and one nest box was soaked and there was a huge pooh outside the door when I let them out. I noticed my BR was hanging out in the run still which is odd. I went to take a look and her whole bottom is a soaked and dirty mess!!! She had a terrible moult this spring. She's still got a half bald neck and bum. Not a huge deal but she's looking thinner every day. I'm thinking she is likely the soft shelled egg eater now. And I did notice that she was not leaving the nest box for hours when I started letting everyone out in April. She's also making a lot more noise than she used to. Not overly loud or anything but she won't seem to shut up!
The other 3 hens are perfect. They love free ranging. Getting an egg a day from each of them. Poo seems fine.

Any ideas? Is there some sort of all purpose treatment I can get from a farm supply store or anything? I'm at a loss.

Oh and also should mention. Laying pellets. Kitchen scraps. Yogurt. Not a huge amount of anything. And they poke around the yard all weekend and in the evenings.

 

[Eggcessive]

She may be suffering from egg yolk peritonitis or internal laying which are very common in good egg layers. Yogurt or buttermilk in very small amounts may be useful for probiotics, but a probiotic powder in the water may cause less GI problems like diarrhea or consipation. I would clean her up with a soak in warm epsom salts, and dry her well. Then look for a bald red are near the vent, and white or yellow patches, and leaking poo. That could be vent gleet, and it smells. Each case of diarrhea is not vent gleet. Here is some reading about vent gleet and EYP:
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
http://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment.html

 

[NothernChick]

Oh no. I just went out there with some warm water to wash her bum. I don't have any epsom salt. She was on the roost which is weird. I noticed her comb is so dark red it's almost purple. I picked her up which she did NOT enjoy and one side of her crop was huge. The other side was almost indented. It was very soft. As I was gently feeling around she started vomitting clear liquid. It was streaming out steady!! She was fighting me a bit then closed her eyes and went limp. I was sure I killed her. She "came to" and struggled so I let her go. Her crop was emptier since all that liquid came out. I put her down and she stumbled around and just sat. HELP!

Her vent is fine BTW I took a peek

 

[NothernChick]

She's back there drinking water now. A lot of water.
Her crop is actually empty. No lump so I don't think it's impacted. And no bile so I don't think it's sour crop. She's clearly not eating. She's not moving at all. Just sitting beside the drinker. Any one have any ideas??

 

[NothernChick]

Maybe she's egg bound?? Anyone?

 

[lithiachick]

I'm sorry about your chicken. I wish I could help, but have no idea. I hope you figure it out soon for her. I can tell you are worried about her!

 

[NothernChick]

Thank you. I do too! I gave her a quick bath and she seems a tiny bit better.

 

[lithiachick]

Sound like she may be feeling a littlebetter after vomiting. Do they have open access to grit? Some circulation issues cause a purple comb from what I've read... Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[NothernChick]

They don't have grit but they free range on half an acre with lots of rock and sandy areas. I have a a gravel driveway they like to peck at. Should I be giving them actual grit?

 

[Eggcessive]

With the dark comb she may have an illness that is affecting her heart, which could be about anything. From all of the soft shell eggs though, peritonitis may be a problem. Chickens with other things going on will frequently suffer from crop problems or slow emptying crop for various reasons, but yeast or fungal infection may be a cause. Nystatin or Medistatin availabe online may help. Some of the links for crop issues recommend vomiting a chicken, but as you witnessed, it is very dangerous, and great care must be used to do it properly. EYP usually affects hens between 2 and 3 years old, but can happen earlier. Here is a good link about crop problems: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html