Yellow urates -Yes another thread about this

[The_Flock]

My girl Lucy is coming up to a year. She's an ameraucana/EE.
A few days ago she was acting off so I took a look at her and everything was normal, but I noticed she's molting. All of my other 5 adult girls have molted already or are almost through their molt. But Lucy hasn't molted yet. She laid her last egg 2 or 3 days ago, and she's a very good layer. She has pin feathers and has acted normal every day since the other day when she was off. I figured the off day was the first official molt day, as most of my girls have a bad first day of molt, that I've noticed. They hang out alone and with their tail down. But by the second day they all improve and act normal again.
So Lucy's urates in her poop right now are yellow. I find my girls have many colours of poop after feeding them BOSS with shells. The poops can be dark, or a bit greasy/smelly and this goes away and stays away after I stop giving them the BOSS. But BOSS is so good for molting.
I'm, first, wondering why the urates are yellow, and second, I'm wondering if all chickens need extra protein during molt? Or are there a few that are better off without more protein during molt.
She's also had breathing issues her entire life which the vet is thinking is chronic. She gets VERY affected by the heat in summer. And also has water come out of her mouth when she drinks alot, which I feel is pretty normal.
Another note on top of notes is that I have a scissor beaked, one eyed hen who needs the layer pellets watered down and Lucy LOVES this soft food.
Anyhoo here's a pic of her poop. Please tell me what you think.

 

[The_Flock]

This is another pic that I couldn't add to the previous comment.

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t think the urates don’t look that yellow, but there is some yellow mucus and fluid in the first photo that make them appear yellow. Yellow urates usually indicates a liver problem. That could be the start of fatty liver disease, a reproductive problem, cancer or heart failure. Again, I think the urates don’t look that yellow, but I would watch them. Back off the sunflower seed, since they are fatty, and you should try to get her eating more protein in her chicken feed, possibly adding some 22% meat bird feed or switching to 20% flock raiser feed for a time. Scrambled egg or tuna is good in small amounts. Protein can help to regrow feathers, but my hens tend to have a decreased appetite while molting. I do offer some high protein treats in moderation, and I feed flock raiser, since it is higher protein Nd better for them when not laying. As long as you put out some crushed oyster shell inna sepearte container, the ones laying can still get some extra calcium.

 

[The_Flock]

I don’t think the urates don’t look that yellow, but there is some yellow mucus and fluid in the first photo that make them appear yellow. Yellow urates usually indicates a liver problem. That could be the start of fatty liver disease, a reproductive problem, cancer or heart failure. Again, I think the urates don’t look that yellow, but I would watch them. Back off the sunflower seed, since they are fatty, and you should try to get her eating more protein in her chicken feed, possibly adding some 22% meat bird feed or switching to 20% flock raiser feed for a time. Scrambled egg or tuna is good in small amounts. Protein can help to regrow feathers, but my hens tend to have a decreased appetite while molting. I do offer some high protein treats in moderation, and I feed flock raiser, since it is higher protein Nd better for them when not laying. As long as you put out some crushed oyster shell inna sepearte container, the ones laying can still get some extra calcium.

Thank you for getting back to me @Eggcessive. I'm glad to hear you don't think the urates are too yellow. Since you don't think the urates are that bad then could it be mild case of dehydration, I wonder? I honestly haven't noticed her drink, but that doesn't mean she hasn't been.
I have lots of crushed oyster shell available to them and just fed them some chopped hardboiled egg with yogurt. I'll add some flock raiser to the girl's feed and stop the BOSS for now. She has an appetite and she's thirdish in command. Nobody but 2 girls chase her away from feed and she had a fair amount of eggs today. She's got no red spots or seemingly swollen parts. She always has had a bit of a puffy backside. But it's not gotten bigger or smaller ever. She's a pretty fit bird, she's never been overweight.
I'll def keep an eye on her a bit more to see if I notice her drinking much.
Thank you for your help. I so appreciate it.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would watch to see if the urates become more yellow, or if she has more yellow fluid in her droppings. Make sure that her crop empties by morning. If you get worried about her, a vet might be a good thing. It is unusual for pullets to molt so young. Mine were close to 18 months when they had their first molt.

 

[The_Flock]

I would watch to see if the urates become more yellow, or if she has more yellow fluid in her droppings. Make sure that her crop empties by morning. If you get worried about her, a vet might be a good thing. It is unusual for pullets to molt so young. Mine were close to 18 months when they had their first molt.

@Eggcessive I'm sorry...Lucy isn't coming up on one year. She's coming up on two years. I was expecting this molt.
Here's a pic this am of poop. Now keep in mind that I have to mix water with the pellets so my scissor beak girl can eat, and Lucy def eats quite a bit of it. So I'm not too worried or shocked at the ploppy shape to the poops. I don't feel this is diarrhea as there is much substance to the poop and these poops started happening right after I started watering the feed down.
These yellow poops of Lucy's are more brown today. Yesterday they looked a bit more yellow. I have a very good friend who's a retired naturopathic doctor and she studied animal medicine. She thinks Lucy had a wee bit of trouble breaking down the amino acids when she eats the sunflower seeds. I'll def keep an eye on her to see how this goes.
The second pic is to show the 5 other girls poop compared.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes there is some noticeable yellow in the droppings in the pictures compared to the ones to the left. My chickens love wet chicken feed. I usually add some water to the powdery leftover feed every other day.

 

[The_Flock]

Yes there is some noticeable yellow in the droppings in the pictures compared to the ones to the left. My chickens love wet chicken feed. I usually add some water to the powdery leftover feed every other day.

Oh...good idea about the powder. They'd eat that up in seconds. Lol. Ya...my girls def eat the wet food over the dried pellets. So I put the wet food down after they've had a bit of pellets in the morning. I mean, chickens starve overnight that's why they eat like heathens in the morning. Haha!!
Since Lucy had scrambled eggs yesterday then if she did have an issue with the amino acids the yellow poop today still makes sense. I'll have a better idea tomorrow whether or not her body is functioning well as she won't have extra protein in her system.
I checked her crop this morning and it's beautiful. Her eyes are bright. She is cold at times, but it's winter and cold out! Lol. So that makes sense too. I saw her have a good drink today and a good eat, as well as picking around the floor. I'm really feeling this has to do with molt and her sensitivity to things. But I'll be diligent regardless.
Eggcessive thank you again, for getting back to me.

 

[The_Flock]

Lucy wasn't getting better so I called the vet and Lucy has cocci eggs in her poop. She has a lowered immune system so she's showing signs far before the others are. There has been quite a bit of sloughing from all of the girls but nothing bloody or alarming. But thanks to Lucy I have a virus, parasite, and bacteria gauge.
I gave her some meloxicam and after I pick it up I'll be giving them all amprolium too. I'm thankful for the short egg withdrawal and for my amazing and awesome vet.
Thank you @Eggcessive for all your wonderful help. I very much appreciate it. ❤

 

[Eggcessive]

So glad that you got her droppings checked for coccidia. That is pretty rare in birds who are grown, but yes, can be a problem if immunity is poor. Amprollium or Corid is a good treatment. Make sure that she drinks it well, and you can also give a 1/4 tsp of the undiluted amprollium orally each day to give a boost. Some vets use sulfadimethoxine or other sulfa drugs as well. Let us know how she gets along.