Hen/fluidy unswollen crop/no smell/wont thow up,eat,or drink!

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WiscoChiko

WiscoChiko

Songster
9 Years
Aug 19, 2010
122
1
103
Portage county WI
2 year old Black copper marans hen. Always been healthy. Eats layer crumbles,pumpkin,and oatmeal. Noticed her sitting off by herself 3 days ago. So, yesterday I brought the girls out some warm oatmeal, and she didnt even look at it,, Thats when I knew something was wrong! Checked her over and she feels thin. Her crop is not empty but not swollen. Feels like all fluid? I read up on sour crop and impacted crop, tried leaning her over she would not throw up? I would love to find out what I'm treating before trying everything under the sun... I have read so many diff. things to try for sour crop/impacted crop but not sure thats what I have. I felt her lower belly under her booty and cant feel an egg in there?(eggbound) So much info on here but where to start? I cant smell anything when i open her mouth? Thanks a bunch guys/gals!! Wisco
After further thought and reading maybe its not fluid in her crop but gas?
 
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Just went out to close the coop and she was cuddled up in a nest box, tried to get her to perch but she wouldnt. I'm sure she'll make it through the night but she will start getting weaker if she doesnt eat or drink. I tried oatmeal in her mouth it almost seems like she spits it out? I have Vi-tal vitimans in their water always but havent seen her drink. I checked her feet because I read about bumblefoot often but they look fine..It has to have something to do with that gasey/fluidy crop like I said it is not super swollen but its not empty I feel no grit in it or anything else?
Wisco
 
If her crop feels like a mushy water balloon or full of liquid chances are its sour crop. Bring her inside in a dog crate or something (I keep mine in a big dog crate in the extra bathroom when they are sick). If its sour crop try feeding her some plain yogurt with live cultures (good bacteria). If she wont eat it try to "wipe" a little onto her tongue at a time kind of to force feed her. Be gentle and patient, try to only offer softened foods like pellets and oats mixed with water. At this point she really needs to eat. Yogurt is your best bet aside from taking her to the vet for an anti-fungal.
Avoid Apple cider vinegar, it can worsen the symptoms or sour crop.
Look inside her mouth with a flashlight, see if there is any yellow or white film in her mouth or throat.
Let me know what you find, but first and for most isolate her from the rest of your flock if possible.
 
I agree with the crop issue, but before you isolate inside I would be certain that there is no mite issue. Severe mites can cause many similar symptoms but will wreak havoc in your house!
 
O.k. last night I brought her inside and gave her only water, this morning her crop is still the same lil swollen and still full of fluid or gas. I am guessing she has already went through the period of not giving food so today I will start tryn yogurt and eggs. Can I just squirt water down her throat with a syringe? Apple cider viniger tryxichicks could be bad? I read alot on people having good results with it, but you seem to know yur stuff so I'll listen and thanks alot for the post! I looked down her throat but it only looks pink maybe a slight white film maybe!
Birdicus it isnt mites/lice or worms as I take strong previnitave measures to prevent them but did check just in case! I massage the lump of fluid often tryn to work i down. tried bending her over again but no spit up! Shes just layn around not eatn or drinkn, I put a lil oatmeal in her beak this a.m. she seems to shake her head and sling it out of her mouth? Would not bother me this much but of coarse she is my sons 4-h show hen! Thanks alot guys/gals and feed me info I am ready and willing to do what I need to save this hen! Thanks-a-bunch, Wisco


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you need to be cautious putting fluid down her throat as it is easy for them to choke- you could try dropping fluid on her beak, by instinct they will drink the drops-
 
It sure sounds like sour crop to me. I have had a few chicks have this this summer. I used the organic ACV made by Braggs it also has 'the mother in it' if you search sour crop there are many threads on this topic and I disagree to not use the ACV. That helps the PH in the crop and you need to withhold food for the 1st day and give only the ACV and water. Day 2 still give ACV and water and give plain yogurt. Nothing else. On the 3rd day I gave them scrambled egg, yogurt and the ACV and water. I got this from Speckledhen and she has raised chickens for many years and I feel that she has quite a bit of knowledge.
 
If her crop feels empty except for what feels like fluid or gas, it may be more likely that she has peritonitis (a severe abdominal infection from internal laying, or a perforation, torsion, etc of the intestine or some other issue lower in her GI tract) which will cause the same gradual listlessness, not eating, weakness, backup of fluid and gas into the crop, and eventually she will die. With a sour crop, there will be some solid matter palpable in the crop, along with fluid. The treatment would be quite different, of course - probably no reasonable or likely successful treatment for peritonitis at this point if she continues to decline.
 
This could make sense! Even though I dont like it! My girls had quit laying for about a month due to light and cold, I live in wisconsin. So a week and a half ago I put a light in the coop with a timer to give them more day light after giving them a month off, they all started laying again she laid one egg about a week ago, this started days after. Thanks for the differant thoughts! Wisco
 
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