Antibiotics, purple-comb, and now full soft crop?

[alphabetsoup]

My sweet Dumpling has so much going on at once. First, we'd been treating her secondary respiratory infection after Infectious Bronchitis with antibotics. She was showing improvement (not gasping for breath and no audible rattling), until a day or two later her lethargic behavior got worse. Yesterday her comb started turning purple (which I know is from poor oxygen circulation) and we noticed her crop was enlarged and soft.

We made her throw up and there is no sour smell coming off her to make be think the crop has soured and the liquid that came out of her was clear. It was still enlarged this morning.

Yesterday after the induced vomiting, she ate some pellets mashed with water and yogurt, but she is still not taking water on her own unless I syringe it into her.

I've called around and all the aviary vets around aren't open until Monday. I'm not sure she will make it that long, but I will get her to a vet ASAP. I don't know what to do in the meantime to help! Should I keep vomiting her? Stop with the antibiotic treatment?

 

[azygous]

Don't vomit her. There's a huge danger of her aspirating liquid into her lungs and even dying immediately from asphyxiation. You need to treat her full crop with miconazole. It takes a few days for the yeast to give off a bad odor. You don't want to wait that long. Here's my article on crop disorders for further info. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Be aware that crop disorders can occur as a secondary infection from a more serious ailment. It can be a sign that a chicken's immune system function is eroding.

The problem is that this hen likely needs an antibiotic for the respiratory issue, but it may cause the yeast to multiply. I would schedule a vet visit on Monday but start the yeast treatment right away. A vaporizer with Oxine or Betadine can help with the congested breathing.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings alphabetsoup,

You definitely have a difficult case on your hands.

Did your hen get diagnosed with IB, by a vet? Is it possible that she has some other respiratory infection?

You should continue the antibiotic course. Hopefully, you have the hen in a safe, comfortable hospital crate or pen.

Another respiratory treatment:
If the hen has symptoms of respiratory illness, a nebulizer can be useful. I have had quick recovery from respiratory illness with nebulizer treatments of 5-10 minutes, twice daily. Nebulizing oxine or colloidal silver, has worked well for two of my roosters. One recovered in 24 hours!

The comb:
When a hen's comb darkens, it is can be due to low oxygen, perhaps from congested lungs. Or it can be due to a lowering of the core temperature, among other things. I have have had many hens with blue combs recover, after providing a red brooder light for warmth. A temperature of 70 to 80 degrees may be needed. Make sure the hen is able to move away, if the warmth is not wanted.

The crop:
Next, her crop is not soured. Instead, she is most likely experiencing crop stasis. The crop and digestive system is sluggish or stopping, due to illness. Without motility of the digestive system, fluid will fill the crop. It is not necessary to force her to vomit, unless she is regurgitating the fluid, and in danger of aspiration. Forcing her to vomit will exhaust her, and could also cause her to choke, if done for more than 2 seconds at a time.

Vomiting a sick chicken can produce lethargy due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Electrolytes in the drinking water for 2-3 days, may also help her feel better. If your hen is not drinking water on her own, this is concerning. Syringe feed the electrolytes if necessary.

It is better to put a crop bra on the hen. I just did this for a critically sick hen, with a doughy crop. Her cop started to empty, by end of the day. A crop bra will support the crop and encourage the fluid and food to pass. She will not like it, but will get used to wearing it, till she recovers. It's worth a try.

If her digestion doesn't improve with a crop bra. Metaclopromide is a medication that can improve digestive motility. Perhaps you can suggest it to the vet when you see one.

Diet:
It's good that she has an appetite, and is eating! That will give her a good chance for recovery. Nourishment is very important for the sick hen.

Continue to offer small, moist meals, every 2-3 hours, nothing seedy or chunky. Watermelon diced up tiny, is helpful for hydrating the sick chicken. Scrambled or mashed hard boiled egg is usually welcomed, too.

POOP ?
What does her poop look like? Diarrhea, watery, mushy, or firm, with bulk? What color are her urates (white part of the poop), white, cream colored or yellow? If she has diarrhea, keep her vent area clean.

If her poop is close to normal looking, and the urates are at least cream colored, that is good.


Put a treatment plan together for your sick hen. Then, be consistent in caring for her. Hopefully, she will recover from this respiratory illness. Respiratory illnesses can take a few weeks to recover from.

These are my thoughts for your sick hen. I pray she improves, soon.

God Bless

 

[CJLR]

Don't vomit her. There's a huge danger of her aspirating liquid into her lungs and even dying immediately from asphyxiation. You need to treat her full crop with miconazole. It takes a few days for the yeast to give off a bad odor. You don't want to wait that long. Here's my article on crop disorders for further info. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Be aware that crop disorders can occur as a secondary infection from a more serious ailment. It can be a sign that a chicken's immune system function is eroding.

The problem is that this hen likely needs an antibiotic for the respiratory issue, but it may cause the yeast to multiply. I would schedule a vet visit on Monday but start the yeast treatment right away. A vaporizer with Oxine or Betadine can help with the congested breathing.

x 2

 

[HungryPenguin]

Aww this recently happened to me when I was treating my baby for a Respiratory Illness, I wasn't so fortunate to get replies on my thread concerning this. The day after the antibiotics, Lucy had a ginormous balloon of a crop full of liquid, when I would pick her up fluid would pour from her beak, when she would lean over to drink, fluid would pour from her beak, it was so uncomfortable for her and I could tell her health was declining fast.
Incase someone comes into an similar dilemma here is what I found: After more frantic research I discovered that antibiotics will kill harmful bacteria (as we know), BUT it will also kill ALL bacteria even the good flora (bacteria that helps them digest food) which they desperately need to pass all things past the crop. This causes their crop to slow down and eventually give them a Sour Crop (yeast infection). At this point you will be in a scary situation with two illnesses! Stop your antibiotics and treat the sour/slow crop balloon or this will eventually kill. Treat with Miconazole Nitrate 2% 1ml for a week and administered garlic water for prebiotic benefits, I also left a small portion of probiotic yogurt for her to nibble at. Once the crop goes down in a few days, good prebiotics to introduce is banana and berries, I also gave her garlic scrambled eggs and feed mash.
Something I would try next time if sour crop happens is to just try garlic water before using the yeast infection ointment... just as an experiment (I swear the ointment had no effect until I put garlic water down her). If/when I use antibiotics in the future I will really pack them full of prebiotic rich foods for awhile first to see if that will prevent this from happening in the future! But for now I plan on trying out the colloidal silver or Oxine to help her get over her cough.
Hope this helps someone out there also researching for answers to save your feathered baby's life!

 

[azygous]

 

[Pugsiehens]

Daktarin orla gel. And kefir. Iam currently experiencing the same problems one of my girls crop isn’t emptying over night. If the two above don’t work try 1ml of liquid paraffin in morning and at night hope this helps.