Speckled Susex with swollen and spongy chest. Acting sick.

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CrazyChickenLady79

CrazyChickenLady79

In the Brooder
8 Years
Dec 4, 2011
15
0
22
Hocking Hills, Ohio
Speckled Sussex with swollen chest. She is not moving much and not sure she is eating/drinking properly - or even laying eggs. She was born end of June and started laying eggs a day before Thanksgiving. We noticed her sick/lazy behaviour a few hours ago. I'm thinking she should be seperated as we have 27 chickens and if she is going to be sick/die, I want the others to be healthy. And I am a first time chicken owner, so any advice would be helpful! Thank you! Barbara
 
Does it feel doughy? Sort of like kneading playdough? She may have crop stasis and you may be feeling mushed up feed that is just sitting there. Have lost a few to that. That means the crop has quit working and pushing food through the hole in the back, so she isn't getting any nutrition. If that is the case, it will begin to ferment and become soured if you can't massage it and get it moving soon. Don't let her eat for at least 24 hours and massage vigorously, pushing the food toward the back side of the crop into the hole. Do this every couple of hours during the day. If it doesn't begin to move along in a day or so, crop surgery is the only thing to do. Even if you empty the crop that way, sometimes, it refuses to kickstart anyway. Just lost one that way.
 
Do you keep a steady supply of "insoluble " grit on demand? Have you been feeding them lots of grasses? I suggest taking her off all feeds for a day or two, keeping her by herself and massaging the mass and see how it goes. Do not put anything more down there. You can make sure she has water in her pen, if she decides to drink. Just don't try to force feed her anything.
 
Last edited:
I went out to look at her and brought her in the house for hubs to look at. We flipped her upside down and stinky liquid (see through yellowish) came out of her mouth. I believe it is liquid in/on her chest that is making it feel spongy. I have her seperated and she seems weak.
 
Don't make her vomit. She could aspirate and choke. (I fixed the double post for you).

You need to get some unfiltered apple cider vinegar and give her a couple of tablespoons in a gallon plastic waterer. No food. Keep her warm and separate from the others. If you have acidified copper sulfate, that is good for sour crop, too. 1/4 teaspoon to a gallon (no ACV if you use the copper sulfate, though) If she is weak, she may have already been starving for awhile-don't beat yourself up about it. Sometimes, it's hard to catch right away. Massage the crop as I mentioned before. She may have a fungal issue set up in there. After a day or two on ACV water, add plain, no sugar yogurt. If she is okay, the next day after that, scrambled eggs and yogurt. Hopefully, by then, she'll be on the upswing. If the stuff is still in there by then, there isn't much hope.
 
Of course, I meant put the vinegar in a gallon of water--just read my post back to myself, LOL. The acidity seems to help change the pH in the crop and eliminate the fungus, if it starts to sour. Food has to be made to move along, though. Some birds are prone to crop issues. And if they get some moldy feed, say, under a waterer that you may not have seen, that can start up the process.
 
I massaged her chest and also added the vinegar to her water. She is in a large dog kennel in the bathroom. I appreciate all the help/advice! We also have vitamins to put in water. Figured if she has been weak (due to not enough nutrition) it would help.
 

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