Wyandotte puffed up lethargic with poopy butt

[Chicknsnducks]

Hello. I have 6 chickens and noticed this evening that my wyandotte appeared puffed up and seemed more lethargic than normal. She is about 1.5 years old. I noticed some poop dried on her backside and picked her up to see it was pretty extensive. There was also a white wet poop that was coming out at that time. She didn’t seem interested in the strawberries i threw in but did drink a little water when I was in the coop.

Their bedding in the coop is pine shavings, it is due for a cleanout though. The run is dirt with plenty of pine shavings that they kick out of the coop. They are eating a layer feed and get treats such as veg and fruit scraps along with meal worms. I did not get home from work before dark yesterday so did not see anything then but the day before everyone seemed energetic and ate their treats and drank water while i was out there.

My plan was to set up the dog crate and bring her into the basement for a soak and to try and get the poop off. I’m not sure if its as simple as that or if she is egg bound or has another issue? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

Bringing her in and giving her a cleanup is a good idea IF she is not too lethargic. Soaking can put them over the edge if they are in bad shape.

If you fear she is egg bound, then feel inside the vent for an egg.

What is her crop like - is it full, soft, boggy, squishy, etc.?

Photos of your hen and her poop may also be helpful.

 

[Chicknsnducks]

Thanks for your reply. I’m new to feeling chicken crops but it feels soft and puffy almost like it feels fatty. It doesn’t protrude abnormally that I can notice. She seems more active today and “looks normal”. She ate treats when I was out there. I’m attaching some pics of her butt. My plan currently is to bring her in and soak her in an epsom salt bath. I have some athlete’s foot cream for her rear because i have been reading about vent gleet. Also have some cider vinegar I can put in her water. Shes going to sleep in the dog crate tonight after her bath. Any thoughts? Am I doing the right thing? Thanks

 

[Chicknsnducks]

Here is a pic of her vent. White is cream I put on there. Vent was bulging a bit at the top and pulsing. Normal?

 

[Chicknsnducks]

Chicken seems to be eating this morning. Attached pic of a poop she took. Looks normal except gel like substance around it. Looks almost like egg. Could she have a broken egg in her? Not sure what to do? Acting normal so maybe just put her back out but don’t want it to be something worse? First time Ive had any sort of chicken problems or sick chicken advice or reassurance would be appreciated.

 

[Chicknsnducks]

Chicken seems to be eating this morning. Attached pic of a poop she took. Looks normal except gel like substance around it. Looks almost like egg white. Could she have a broken egg? Not sure what to do? Acting normal so maybe just put her back out but don’t want it to be something worse? First time Ive had any sort of chicken problems or sick chicken advice or reassurance would be appreciated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Chicken seems to be eating this morning. Attached pic of a poop she took. Looks normal except gel like substance around it. Looks almost like egg. Could she have a broken egg in her? Not sure what to do? Acting normal so maybe just put her back out but don’t want it to be something worse? First time Ive had any sort of chicken problems or sick chicken advice or reassurance would be appreciated.

I'm glad that she's eating this morning, was her crop empty this morning before she ate/drank?

Yes, that does look "eggy". She may very well have had an egg break or she laid a "shell-less" egg that came apart and she ate the membrane. (Eating the membrane is quite common and normal, mine will fight over a membrane if they see it - it's just a very thing shell).

She does have a bulge or some swelling above the vent, not sure what that is.

IF she's acting normal, then I would put her back if she were mine. Watch to see if the others pick at her.
I know products are hard to get right now, but if you have any Calcium tablet - like Caltrate or even TUMS - I would give her 1/2 one of either for 2-3 days just in case she's having troubles laying an egg. Sometimes a soft shelled egg is very hard to expel and can make them feel really bad. I normally leave my hens with the flock unless they get picked on which rarely happens.

It won't hurt to keep her cleaned up. It's hard to tell in her poop if that 1 thing I have circled might be a tapeworm proglottid or if it's just some type of debris. Keep a look out in the poop to see if there are more (see video below).

 

[Chicknsnducks]

Thanks for your response, I appreciate it. I’ll take a closer look at her poop to see if I notice anything like the video. I do have some tums i can use to give her. Trying to feel her crop this morning and I didn’t feel any puffiness so assuming I’m feeling the right thing I guess it was empty. No putrid smells coming from her either. Going to put her back out with the flock and keep and eye on her.

 

[Chicknsnducks]

Just checked on my chicken. She’s dead. Really beat up here. She looked great yesterday now I’m worried somethings going on and need to worry about my other hens

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just checked on my chicken. She’s dead. Really beat up here. She looked great yesterday now I’m worried somethings going on and need to worry about my other hens

I'm sorry about your loss.

Is there any way you can send the body for necropsy or if not, do one yourself?
That's really the only way to know the cause.