My chicken is a 2.5 year old black asian hen. Have had her and 2 sisters since 1 day old. She has always had some poop stick to feathers so I just keep them trimmed. Her stools have always been normal and several fecals negative.
All has been well until July when all 3 stopped laying. I thought it was heat. They laid very minimal thru August, not sure that Blynken, (the bird in question) ever started. The in Sept. I got to abnormal shaped eggs with very thin shells. I always have calcium out (although they don't seem to touch it). They also get organic layer feed.
Then she started acting strange and I felt like she had fluid in her abdomen. I picked her up to bring her in so I could observe her. She started turning purple as I put pressure on belly. I kept her in for 10 days. I drained abdomen and got a yellow somewhat milky fluid. Treated with tetracycline and anti-inflammatory. She responded well. Eating, drinking, getting feisty. Put her back outside a few days after finishing antibiotics. She was doing great for a few weeks, but still no eggs. Then last week I noticed LG amount of liquid under roost in coop. That night I watched her carefully and she was drinking alot, then she pooped pure clear water. I felt her crop and it was large and hard. Brought her back in and next morning her crop had not emptied. Gave oil and started massages. Only one vet around here Wil see chickens, and not til Monday. Did oil and massages for 3 days, it softened up and I was sure would empty, but never did. Whole wkend she drank huge amounts of water and passed only water. Got her in Monday and did surgery to empty crop. They cleared and flushed. No obvious reason for blockage. Put on metronidazole. She has not wanted to eat much at all all week. I've been having to force feed her. She's lost alot of weight. I stopped antibiotics Fri, to see if that's why and she finally started eating much better today, but wont eat her feed, just favorite treats (yogurt, works, bread, seeds, etc...). Shes passing stools now but they are very loose and she's still drinking alot of water. Any thoughts or recommendations would be much appreciated. I know she's tired of being inside and misses her sisters.
All has been well until July when all 3 stopped laying. I thought it was heat. They laid very minimal thru August, not sure that Blynken, (the bird in question) ever started. The in Sept. I got to abnormal shaped eggs with very thin shells. I always have calcium out (although they don't seem to touch it). They also get organic layer feed.
Then she started acting strange and I felt like she had fluid in her abdomen. I picked her up to bring her in so I could observe her. She started turning purple as I put pressure on belly. I kept her in for 10 days. I drained abdomen and got a yellow somewhat milky fluid. Treated with tetracycline and anti-inflammatory. She responded well. Eating, drinking, getting feisty. Put her back outside a few days after finishing antibiotics. She was doing great for a few weeks, but still no eggs. Then last week I noticed LG amount of liquid under roost in coop. That night I watched her carefully and she was drinking alot, then she pooped pure clear water. I felt her crop and it was large and hard. Brought her back in and next morning her crop had not emptied. Gave oil and started massages. Only one vet around here Wil see chickens, and not til Monday. Did oil and massages for 3 days, it softened up and I was sure would empty, but never did. Whole wkend she drank huge amounts of water and passed only water. Got her in Monday and did surgery to empty crop. They cleared and flushed. No obvious reason for blockage. Put on metronidazole. She has not wanted to eat much at all all week. I've been having to force feed her. She's lost alot of weight. I stopped antibiotics Fri, to see if that's why and she finally started eating much better today, but wont eat her feed, just favorite treats (yogurt, works, bread, seeds, etc...). Shes passing stools now but they are very loose and she's still drinking alot of water. Any thoughts or recommendations would be much appreciated. I know she's tired of being inside and misses her sisters.
