3 year old hen with a strange breathing problem, please help

[TropicalChickies]

So it seems the "partial blockage" theory might have been right. Whatever goo was in there was fermenting away. Maybe it had even worked further down in her system, but she appears cleaned out now!

 

[TropicalChickies]

So it seems the "partial blockage" theory might have been right. Whatever goo was in there was fermenting away. Maybe it had even worked further down in her system, but she appears cleaned out now!

And she is so happy! Running around like a little pullet, chatting away

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello,

Update: On Wednesday I gave Cleo an tiny Epsom salt flush. It appears to have really helped. I waited about five hours after her breakfast to let the crop empty some. I mixed half a tsp of salts in half a cup of water and carefully syringed 2 ml into her beak. Massaged the crop. Syringed another 2ml and massaged. Figured that was enough for now. Put her in the workshop to observe.

Ten minutes later she pooped out a foul smelling slimy brown green mush puddle. Egads, I'm not squeamish but this was pretty gross. Then she pooped another semi solid mass right after it, slightly less disgusting. Her crop immediately "degassed" and went flat against her chest. The sourdough smell from her beak -- gone!

Question: I haven't given her any more Epsom salt after that. Yesterday I gave water with a little electrolyte powder and probiotic. The instructions I found for the Epsom salt flush say to repeat for 3 days, but it doesn't seem necessary. Should I just keep it "in reserve" in case she gasses up again or repeat anyway?

I'm so glad she's doing much better!

I have seen instructions to repeat the flush for 3 days as well. If the one time seemed to work fine. Then I think I'd wait and see how she does over the next few days. You can always repeat just like you did, if needed.

It's wonderful news that the flush worked that well.

Tell Cleo I said "Hello!" and to stop eating all those frogs and bananas!

 

[TropicalChickies]

I'm so glad she's doing much better!

I have seen instructions to repeat the flush for 3 days as well. If the one time seemed to work fine. Then I think I'd wait and see how she does over the next few days. You can always repeat just like you did, if needed.

It's wonderful news that the flush worked that well.

Tell Cleo I said "Hello!" and to stop eating all those frogs and bananas!

Thank you. Yes, I agree. I'll observe and use the Epsom salts if needed. I'll keep Nyastin on hand too from now on. But only if really needed -- I imagine these anti-yeast/fungal meds must be hard on their little livers to process. The woman here at the "agroferreteria" (the stores that sell all of animal feeds and anti-parasitics etc recommended putting a few drops of liquid Complete B vitamin in her drinking water as well to help with the liver.

I'll keep you updated on Cleo here, but I'm going to start another thread on my other hen, Butchie Her appetite and energy are much improved, but she still has pasty butt and loose poop.

 

[TropicalChickies]

I'm so glad she's doing much better!

I have seen instructions to repeat the flush for 3 days as well. If the one time seemed to work fine. Then I think I'd wait and see how she does over the next few days. You can always repeat just like you did, if needed.

It's wonderful news that the flush worked that well.

Tell Cleo I said "Hello!" and to stop eating all those frogs and bananas!

Hi,
Cleo update. 3 days off Nyastin and doing well. I'm checking the crop and it's emptying overnight, not squishy, and more firm but malleable when it's full.

But yesterday I noticed Cleo's little face blushing a very bright deep red. Not purple-ish, but seriously fire engine red. I was like, oh no! What now?

Or maybe... she's coming back into her laying cycle...?

This morning she walked into the new mostly wood free coop I just built them, nestled into some wood shavings and ten minutes later came out crowing. Went in and found her first egg since she her molt! A beautiful big one with a nice strong shell too. There's a pic of it next to one of my pullets' eggs for comparison

Her color is still pretty red. Is this anything to watch or just her reproductive hormones signalling she's back in the saddle?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Way to go Cleo!

The color is from her coming back into lay.
As she gets into the swing of things, you may notice she's got a lot of color before she lays her egg and is a bit paler afterward, then she'll start to redden back up. Yes, it's hormones.
She looks great!

Both eggs are beautiful, but Cleo's is a bit more special isn't it

 

[TropicalChickies]

Yep, I'm checking her crop every morning and she seems right as rain.

Now I'm more worried about my other hen, Butchie, the one with persistent diarrhea and pasty butt. I posted about it (with all the details the Moderator recommends) but haven't gotten any helpful insights.

She's had persistent diarrhea for almost three months. Runny and yellow, almost every single time she poops. In the post I relate everything I've tried to do to help her in order from treating for bacteria to worms to yeast (with breaks in between.) Her energy and appetite come and go. After the course of Nyastin her appetite came back strong, but her poop is loose and watery all day long. It looks like she's not breaking down feed very well. Now there's a cheesy smell coming from her butt too.

I really appreciate your experience and help...I know you aren't my personal chicken coach, but I'd really appreciate it if you could take a look at this post and let me know if you have any ideas.

She drinks a lot of water. Ive tried putting electrolytes and probiotics in it 2-3 days a week, but it hasn't helped.

My partner went into town today to look for copper sulphate. That's the only thing I haven't tried!

Thread '2 year old hen. Persistent loose poop and pasty butt. Did not respond to Nyastin. More details and pics in post.' https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...yastin-more-details-and-pics-in-post.1551540/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yep, I'm checking her crop every morning and she seems right as rain.

Now I'm more worried about my other hen, Butchie, the one with persistent diarrhea and pasty butt. I posted about it (with all the details the Moderator recommends) but haven't gotten any helpful insights.

She's had persistent diarrhea for almost three months. Runny and yellow, almost every single time she poops. In the post I relate everything I've tried to do to help her in order from treating for bacteria to worms to yeast (with breaks in between.) Her energy and appetite come and go. After the course of Nyastin her appetite came back strong, but her poop is loose and watery all day long. It looks like she's not breaking down feed very well. Now there's a cheesy smell coming from her butt too.

I really appreciate your experience and help...I know you aren't my personal chicken coach, but I'd really appreciate it if you could take a look at this post and let me know if you have any ideas.

She drinks a lot of water. Ive tried putting electrolytes and probiotics in it 2-3 days a week, but it hasn't helped.

My partner went into town today to look for copper sulphate. That's the only thing I haven't tried!

Thread '2 year old hen. Persistent loose poop and pasty butt. Did not respond to Nyastin. More details and pics in post.' https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...yastin-more-details-and-pics-in-post.1551540/

I took a look at it.
No worries.
Hopefully some others will chime in with their thoughts too.

 

[TropicalChickies]

For anyone reading this thread, I just want to update that Cleo seems to have made a full recovery from her Sour Crop (while molting and while I was treating her for sticktight fleas)!

Her treatment was:

-Feeding her a tsp of oil every day for three days to move food through the crop
-a full 7 days of Nystatin, 2x day, 2.5 mil doses (She's about 6-7lbs)
-two Epsom salt flushes (that really helped clean her out so the Nystatin could work better I think)

She's back to her lay. This is her third season laying, but she's laid 4 big well formed eggs in seven days, not bad for her age at all. Her color is beautiful red, her comb is standing straight up, and she's ever so happy to be well.

Many thanks to @Wyorp Rock for helping me along the way.

The other hen, Butchie, who has been struggling with yeast on the back end (diarrhea and vent paste) is getting much better too. I'm aggressively treating her for cocci, worms, and yeast and at least one is working. I'll update that thread as well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the detailed information about treatment.

I'm so happy to hear Cleo is doing well and looking lovely