Problems with laying egg

[Jetsko]

Hi

Need Advice - my hen Elvis is about 4 yrs old, yesterday she spent all day in the nesting box. Today she is out but not her usual bitchy bully self and I noticed that she had a yucky poopy butt. I put her in a bath of water only, to clean her butt and saw that she has what looks like an egg membrane hanging out of her vent. I finished washing & drying her butt and put her outside. She has been standing in the sun with her eyes closed, obviously not feeling well.

I noticed during the winter, that her & my other older hen's eggs shells were very thin, so I switched to layer feed with calcium and also continue to offer crushed egg shells from all my hens (I have 2 older girls, & 3 young ones) from a separate feeder. I think she may have tried to lay a shell less egg .

Do I try to pull the membrane out? Let her body handle it?

Should I add something to the water or food? She is one of 5 hens, the others are acting normal.

Thank you in advance for your expert advice.

[kenya]

I'd pull the membrane out and have her bottom soak in a warm Epsom salt bath for 10 minutes or so.

[Jaye]

I agree with @kenya , except I would probably not try to pull the membrane out until after she's had a good soak in a warm Epsom salts bath first. Also you'll need to dry her butt off a bit afterwards. You can use a hand dryer on warm/cool setting so that she doesn't get overheated in the process.

[kenya]

Agree with @Jaye

[Jetsko]

thanks for the advice - will let you know how she is doing tomorrow

[Jetsko]

Gave Elvis a 10 min soak in epsom salt bath this morning & then slowly pulled out the membrane. She seems a bit spunkier when I put her on the washing machine to dry - I'll continue to watch her closely. I've attached a picture of Elvis when she is almost dry.

Thank you for the help

Can anyone tell me what type of hen she is - previous owner didn't know. Also why did she grow white fluffy feathers on her back at the base of the tail this winter? (I don't have a rooster only 5 girls)

[Jaye]

Glad to see she's feeling better. She looks a lot like a hatchery variety Production Red Sex Link to me.

[KimChick]

Glad your hen is feeling better.
I agree, she looks like a Red Sex Link; I have some of those.

[kenya]

Well hopefully that works.

[Jetsko]

Elvis Update - She had a dust bath with the other girls and was walking around the yard with them as well. She even tried to steal a bug from one of the Sussex's. She is slowly returning to her bitchy bully self.
Thanks for your help