4 y/o amerucauna not pooping and vomits after eating/drinking

[azygous]

I would begin with the assumption that you're dealing with an impacted crop. You can often treat that while cancer and bowel obstructions approach the realm of futility, although treatment for crop impaction can often resolve bowel obstruction caused by back up poop (constipation).

You can use any sort of edible oil or mineral oil, but I prefer coconut oil in its solid form because it's easy to get into the chicken without most of it ending up on you and the outside of the chicken.

Taking about two teaspoons of oil to start with, slip it into the beak. Or the chicken may even happily eat it off your finger. Then massage the crop gently for a couple minutes. You may feel the contents break up and disappear.

If not, introduce another teaspoon of oil and repeat the massage. Repeat a third time a half hour later. If after waiting another half hour after the last massage, the crop is still full, you may then give a stool softener such as Dulcolax, something with no stimulant. Wait an hour and do another massage. That should empty the crop.

If not, surgery may be the last resort, which we can walk you through.

 

[ShiftyShickens]

agreed. check for the crop being impacted, then check for being egg bound if that's inconclusive. twisted or impacted bowels would be a fair assumption if neither of the other illnesses are the cause.

 

[ShiftyShickens]

if shes egg bound she'll be hunched over and may even appear bowlegged. good luck!

 

[staceyj]

In reading back, your words said you gave her a "flake" of Timothy and alfalfa...
Was that an autocorrect meaning block?

If so, when dry they are so compacted... if you take a cube of it and soak it in a bowl of warm water you'll witness what a small cube expands to, incredible how much it increases in volume.

If this is the case I'm voting for impaction/possible bowel obstruction and I'd proceed immediately with the suggestions @azygous outlined for you. Oil and fluids might help it pass through. Make sure you provide her with PLENTY of fresh water to rehydrate the source of the potential clog.

 

[azygous]

To clarify what a "flake" is when speaking of hay, it's a layer of the large bale that "flakes" off as you pull apart the layers of the hay bale. It's a lot different from compressed and dried hay cubes.

Chickens most often ignore the stems in a flake of hay which can cause impaction if consumed, though the leafy parts can also cause impaction if consumed without adequate water consumption, though it's rare.

Any solid matter can cause impacted crop if the crop doesn't empty regularly for any number of reasons. Pigging out is one such cause, although I doubt it's an actual medical term.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m glad she’s hanging in thrre. I do hope you try the crop treatment. Please tell us how she does.

 

[staceyj]

To clarify what a "flake" is when speaking of hay, it's a layer of the large bale that "flakes" off as you pull apart the layers of the hay bale. It's a lot different from compressed and dried hay cubes.

Chickens most often ignore the stems in a flake of hay which can cause impaction if consumed, though the leafy parts can also cause impaction if consumed without adequate water consumption, though it's rare.

Any solid matter can cause impacted crop if the crop doesn't empty regularly for any number of reasons. Pigging out is one such cause, although I doubt it's an actual medical term.

Thanks for that clarification!
- and pigging out SHOULD BE an actual medical term!

 

[chickens really]

I once had a constipated Hen and I gave her a tablespoon of margarine mixed into her regular feed..She pooped out a massive poop that looked the same as a Dog poop..It helped though..She survived.

 

[Brinkki]

I would begin with the assumption that you're dealing with an impacted crop. You can often treat that while cancer and bowel obstructions approach the realm of futility, although treatment for crop impaction can often resolve bowel obstruction caused by back up poop (constipation).

You can use any sort of edible oil or mineral oil, but I prefer coconut oil in its solid form because it's easy to get into the chicken without most of it ending up on you and the outside of the chicken.

Taking about two teaspoons of oil to start with, slip it into the beak. Or the chicken may even happily eat it off your finger. Then massage the crop gently for a couple minutes. You may feel the contents break up and disappear.

If not, introduce another teaspoon of oil and repeat the massage. Repeat a third time a half hour later. If after waiting another half hour after the last massage, the crop is still full, you may then give a stool softener such as Dulcolax, something with no stimulant. Wait an hour and do another massage. That should empty the crop.

If not, surgery may be the last resort, which we can walk you through.

Thank you for the suggestion! I will be going home shortly to check on her and will try the coconut oil and crop massage.

 

[Brinkki]

To clarify what a "flake" is when speaking of hay, it's a layer of the large bale that "flakes" off as you pull apart the layers of the hay bale. It's a lot different from compressed and dried hay cubes.

Chickens most often ignore the stems in a flake of hay which can cause impaction if consumed, though the leafy parts can also cause impaction if consumed without adequate water consumption, though it's rare.

Any solid matter can cause impacted crop if the crop doesn't empty regularly for any number of reasons. Pigging out is one such cause, although I doubt it's an actual medical term.

Thanks for clarifying azygous! I have since raked up all the hay and gotten rid of it. She did like digging to the bottom for the tiny pieces of alfalfa leaves. The weather also got cold about the same time..so maybe she drank less idk. Hoping the coconut oil will help.