Concern Over Chicken Walking Oddly After Pooping. Could It Be Constipation?

[EggHarvester]

We have a Frizzled Gold Laced Polish hen who started walking strangely, almost like a penguin, after we found her with her saddle all messed up and her wings pulled back awkwardly. At first, we thought she might be egg bound or injured, so we removed her saddle and gave her an Epsom salt soak to see if it helped. After soaking, she passed a large poop and stopped waddling, then resumed her normal behavior. We kept her inside in a quiet, dark room for the night and she laid an egg the next day, ruling out egg binding.

We think her wings had been over-mated by the rooster, which caused her saddle to get messed up, so we trimmed her wing shafts, as they were pointy and almost needle-like. After rejoining the flock, she did an awkward walk, but after passing another large poop that looked broody, she returned to walking normally. She isnt broody and never has been. Has anyone experienced something similar? Can chickens get constipated, and is there anything we can do to help prevent constipation in the future?

[ChickMagnet]

Poor hen, I'm glad she's better now! Yes, chickens can definitely get constipated, especially after stress or if they're not getting enough fiber in their diet. You did the right thing by soaking her and giving her time to recover. To prevent constipation, you can add fiber-rich foods like oats, leafy greens, or pumpkin to her diet. Another thing that can help is providing a dust bath area with sand or dirt, which can help with digestion and reduce stress.

[Eggplorer]

This sounds like a stressful situation for both you and your hen, but it seems like you handled it well! Yes, chickens can get constipated, though it's not very common. Usually, it's caused by dehydration, stress, or an imbalance in their diet. It's great that you gave her a soak to help her pass the poop. To help prevent this in the future, make sure she's getting enough water, fiber-rich food like leafy greens, and a bit of grit to help with digestion.

[EggWise]

I think she was likely stressed from both the injury and the rooster's over-mating. It's good that she passed such a large poop after soaking, it could have been constipation or just a result of stress. To prevent this from happening again, I would make sure she's getting plenty of fiber and grit. You can also add a bit of olive oil or flaxseed to her diet, which can help keep things moving. Keep monitoring her behavior, but she sounds like she's recovering well!

[HenVentor]

Poor thing! It sounds like she may have been dealing with some digestive discomfort, but I'm glad to hear she's recovering. From what I understand, chickens can experience constipation, though it's not super common. I've seen some hens waddle after an upset stomach, but once they relieve themselves, they're fine. Keep her hydrated and give her some soft foods like boiled potatoes or oats, which can help her digestion. I think she'll be back to normal soon, just keep monitoring her behavior.

[Eggcentric]

I think you're on the right track by giving her some time to recover in a calm, dark space. It seems like the stress from her wings being over-mated and possibly constipation caused the weird walking. Chickens do get constipated, but it's usually due to stress, dehydration, or a poor diet. To avoid future issues, make sure she gets plenty of fiber-rich food, like veggies or high-quality pellets, and fresh water daily. Also, try adding some poultry vitamins to her diet to support her overall health.

[CluckWhisperer]

It sounds like she had a combination of things going on. Chickens can get constipated, especially if they've been stressed or injured. Her odd walk may have been a response to both her physical discomfort and digestive issues. I've found that providing extra fiber helps prevent constipation, so try adding some leafy greens, like spinach or dandelion greens, to her diet. It's also helpful to give her some extra protein, like scrambled eggs, to aid in recovery. Hopefully, she'll continue to feel better.

[EggstraSpecial]

It sounds like you're doing all the right things for your hen. Chickens can become constipated, especially under stress or if they've eaten something that's not digesting well. I'd suggest giving her some extra greens or a bit of pumpkin, which is great for digestive health. It's also important that she stays hydrated, so make sure she always has access to fresh water. It seems like she's doing much better, so hopefully, this won't be an ongoing issue.

[RoostRuler]

I've seen this with one of my chickens after a stressful event. They can get a bit constipated or have trouble passing large poops. You're doing the right thing by giving her a break in a quiet place. Keep an eye on her behavior and poops, and make sure she's eating enough fiber and drinking water. If she's still acting normal after passing the large poop, I wouldn't worry too much. Just continue to monitor her and provide a balanced diet with plenty of fiber.

[PeckingPioneer]

We have a Frizzled Gold Laced Polish hen who started walking strangely, almost like a penguin, after we found her with her saddle all messed up and her wings pulled back awkwardly. At first, we thought she might be egg bound or injured, so we removed her saddle and gave her an Epsom salt soak to see if it helped. After soaking, she passed a large poop and stopped waddling, then resumed her normal behavior. We kept her inside in a quiet, dark room for the night and she laid an egg the next day, ruling out egg binding.

We think her wings had been over-mated by the rooster, which caused her saddle to get messed up, so we trimmed her wing shafts, as they were pointy and almost needle-like. After rejoining the flock, she did an awkward walk, but after passing another large poop that looked broody, she returned to walking normally. She isnt broody and never has been. Has anyone experienced something similar? Can chickens get constipated, and is there anything we can do to help prevent constipation in the future?

That sounds like a stressful situation for your hen, but it's great she's doing better now. Yes, chickens can become constipated, especially if they are stressed or not eating enough fiber. The large poop she passed after soaking could have been her system getting back to normal. To prevent constipation, I recommend making sure she has access to a variety of greens like lettuce or spinach and some grit to help digestion. Also, check if her diet is lacking any key nutrients.