Yellow/Green poop, dirty butt, lethargic, breathing sounds like rattling

Aug 12, 2025
5
2
8
New chicken mom here! In my flock of 22, I have 1 hen that has a poopy butt, yellowy green in color, very lethargic, rattling breathing. I believe her belly feels firm and full, but I'm not quite an expert on that, yet. It's hard to tell in the picture, but her comb is not as red as her sisters.

What could this be? What should my plan of action be? Secondary plan of action? Thank you!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20250822_203228.jpg
    IMG_20250822_203228.jpg
    296.7 KB · Views: 21
  • IMG_20250822_203221.jpg
    IMG_20250822_203221.jpg
    413.8 KB · Views: 5
New chicken mom here! In my flock of 22, I have 1 hen that has a poopy butt, yellowy green in color, very lethargic, rattling breathing. I believe her belly feels firm and full, but I'm not quite an expert on that, yet. It's hard to tell in the picture, but her comb is not as red as her sisters.

What could this be? What should my plan of action be? Secondary plan of action? Thank you!
Try to post pictures of her poop. These experts may be able to help.

@Eggcessive
@coach723 @Wyorp Rock
 
New chicken mom here! In my flock of 22, I have 1 hen that has a poopy butt, yellowy green in color, very lethargic, rattling breathing. I believe her belly feels firm and full, but I'm not quite an expert on that, yet. It's hard to tell in the picture, but her comb is not as red as her sisters.

What could this be? What should my plan of action be? Secondary plan of action? Thank you!
Welcome To BYC

Give her bum a good wash up and get all the dried poop off. While you're doing that, inspect her for lice/mites.

Have you added any new birds recently?
She has a bit of a sunken eye and it's hard to tell if she has dirt of mucous in the in her nares. You may want to check that out too.

Rattling breathing can be due to respiratory illness, but I'd check her crop to make sure it's emptying overnight. Feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs for any bloat or feeling of fluid.
When was her last egg?
When was she dewormed?
What do you feed, including treats?

I notice you mentioned on another thread you took birds to a fair, were those birds quarantined for a few weeks of observation when you brought them back home?

1755921590256.jpeg
 
Pictures of her droppings to look for yellow urates would be good. Yellow urates could be a sign of water belly/ascites or liver problems. How old is this hen, and does she still lay eggs? Where did your chickens come from. I agree that her eye looks like some that may have had a respiratory disease in the past, and those can be chronic. Look for any gunk or bubbles in either eye. In hot weather a soiled vent can attract flies who lay maggot eggs and can cause flystrike, a deadly condition. When hens have an enlarged lower belly, their droppings may be messy and get stuck below the vent. I would try to keep it clean if possible. Probiotics or plain Greek yogurt with live cultures (Fage, Greek Gods, Stonyfield and other brands) would be good. Probios or the generic probiotic from feed stores is also good.
 
Pictures of her droppings to look for yellow urates would be good. Yellow urates could be a sign of water belly/ascites or liver problems. How old is this hen, and does she still lay eggs? Where did your chickens come from. I agree that her eye looks like some that may have had a respiratory disease in the past, and those can be chronic. Look for any gunk or bubbles in either eye. In hot weather a soiled vent can attract flies who lay maggot eggs and can cause flystrike, a deadly condition. When hens have an enlarged lower belly, their droppings may be messy and get stuck below the vent. I would try to keep it clean if possible. Probiotics or plain Greek yogurt with live cultures (Fage, Greek Gods, Stonyfield and other brands) would be good. Probios or the generic probiotic from feed stores is also good.
@Eggcessive , here's some good info I found on salpingitis.

https://nexusacademicpublishers.com/table_contents_detail/4/428/html#google_vignette
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom