Advice on sick hen - (Non-urgent but still an issue)

[jonalisa]

My Silver Cuckoo Marans hen, Alice, has had a tough 6 years. She has a foot or leg issue where she can't walk for weeks, then suddenly she can walk or even run and then a few weeks later she can't walk at all again. Right now she has problems walking and she can't roost. So she's accustomed to sleeping on a towel on the poop board. The past few days she doesn't even try to get down from the poop board in the morning; so I put her on and off, night and day. Last night, I noticed she had a billiard ball-size wad of semi-hard poop on her backside, so brought her in and bathed her and gave her an Epsom soak, and dried her. I noticed her crop was empty so I gave her a boiled egg with PolyVisol-no iron and she gobbled it down.
Today I went out there and she was sitting on the poop board with her face in a corner not moving. I brought her in and offered food (no interest) but then removed it when realized her crop is semi-full. I don't smell any yeast odor. I have her in a crate in my kitchen and gave her water with aspirin in it and a small bowl of coconut oil pieces. She's not interested. She was laying eggs up until yesterday and while she rallied often to where she could walk after a couple of weeks, I think her rallying days are over.

What should I be watching for or doing for her?
Thanks.

 

[Eggcessive]

It really sounds like she is probably having a slow crop related to a possible reproductive problem. It is great that she has laid up to now. Does she have any enlargement or fullness in her lower belly, between her legs? If so, it is firm or spongy, or tight? Does she have access to poultry grit for her gizzard to function? I would offer some moist chicken feed and a little scrambled egg when she is hungry. If her crop is full and not emptyijg, I would just encourage water. Crop slowdown can eventually lead to sour crop. I have never had any luck treating crop problems in older hens. I just let them eat and do what they want, when they want, and at some point they either die or if they are being pecked, I put them down.

 

[jonalisa]

Alice passed away tonight. She let out a softy cry and then slumped. I patted her and she let out her last breath.
It's been really horrible to try so hard, to try so many things, and not be able to give her any relief at all.
So very sad tonight. But I've got 8 healthy chicks in my brooder and 8 lovable hens in the coop and tomorrow is another day.

@Goosebaby @Eggcessive
Thanks ever so much to both of you for you help and caring.

 

[jonalisa]

It really sounds like she is probably having a slow crop related to a possible reproductive problem. It is great that she has laid up to now. Does she have any enlargement or fullness in her lower belly, between her legs? If so, it is firm or spongy, or tight? Does she have access to poultry grit for her gizzard to function? I would offer some moist chicken feed and a little scrambled egg when she is hungry. If her crop is full and not emptyijg, I would just encourage water. Crop slowdown can eventually lead to sour crop. I have never had any luck treating crop problems in older hens. I just let them eat and do what they want, when they want, and at some point they either die or if they are being pecked, I put them down.

(I just saw this...I have 8 new chicks in my brooder that will be a week old on Monday. It's been a hectic week.)
I will definitely check her abdomen in the morning. The chickens do have grit that I provide in a bowl next to a waterer, but also my coop litter is sand, as is the covered run.
She was out with the flock today for a short time... We have a lot of hawks right now and I had to herd them back in after about an hour. She was eating grass and digging up worms and staying in one spot. However, her crop was still partially full but felt soft... not squishy though. I made her scrambled egg but she wasn't interested. I did get some B12 complex in her as @Goosebaby suggested.

She really does her best to keep up with the flock. She doesn't want to stand out. She'll make her way to wherever they are, but sit on the periphery. Tonight I went out to the coop and she was already on the poop board on her towel, before any of the others had roosted. I felt her crop and it felt a little more full than earlier.
I will see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks for the great advice and knowledge, as usual. I really appreciate it.

 

[jonalisa]

So, just posting an update on Alice.
I have had her in the house for 2 days, expecting her to pass. She's been sitting in one spot, eyes closed, full crop. I've been intermittently offering greek yogurt, beef baby food, coconut oil pieces, mineral oil and water (alternating fresh water with water containing polyvisol -no iron, liquid b-complex and some calcium citrate.) I also spend a few minutes massaging her crop gently, a few times a day.
I realized she had laid an egg yesterday out in the coop. So when I found her yesterday morning on the poop board, she must have already gotten down to the nestboxes, laid and gotten back up on the poop board.
This morning her crop is almost completely empty. She's having trouble walking - a combination of her bad foot/leg and sitting so long in a crate.
I'm going to give her some time outside today - our first sunny day in a while.
I had her out with the flock the other day and they were all trying to attack her- so I use a squirt gun and eventually they were all pretty much ignoring her. We'll see how it goes from here.
Thanks, @Eggcessive and @Goosebaby for all your support!

 

[jonalisa]

You’re doing so much for her

Really, I am lucky to be able to work at home... Thanks for all your thoughts.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss of Alice. You really tried so hard for her. Good luck with the babies and other hens.

 

[jonalisa]

Today I see her crop is not completely empty. She's puffed up, as well.
I'll look this up, but appreciate any advice. can see her crop is likely not emptying...

 

[jonalisa]

Good advice, I will try these things. Thank you.
I hope you see some turnaround with your gander.

 

[Goosebaby]

Good advice, I will try these things. Thank you.
I hope you see some turnaround with your gander.

Thank you and I’m hoping your girl feels like her normal self soon too!