My 4 year-old buff orp has been unwell for over 2 weeks. I am playing the usual game with trying to identify and treat the problem.
Symptoms:
Lethargic, periods of walking around, lots of laying around, somewhat stiff walking
Not eating - but rarely will accept a small amount of treat of some kind
Little drinking
Weight Loss
Abnormal Droppings - Mostly urates, small amount clear fluid, tiny amount of normal green/brown dropping that looks gluier than usual. Droppings are getting on her fluff. Droppings are very skinny and squeezed-looking, not wide and looser like normal droppings.
Crop - not enlarged, however not emptying completely at night, some emptying is occurring, no sour smell, feels slightly spongey, no hard masses or lumps at all
Egg Laying - 4 years old, but still occasionally laying. history of thin-shelled eggs after first 2 yrs despite layer crumbles and oyster shell and treats of yogurt. Hasn't laid in weeks. No set egg-laying schedule.
Underside/Abdomen - Firm but not hard, not bloated or liquid-filled, but feels firmer than other hens comparatively. Not hot.
Comb/wattles - normal
Current Condition - getting weaker from weight loss
Treatments so far:
Started out guessing may be sour crop even though not all symptoms present. Gave proper dosage flucanozole according to merck vet manual. Medication says it works for three days after dosage. Crop not very full, partial emptying at night. did not manually empty.
Much crop massaging and checking every morning and night, feeling for lump, liquid, emptying. Smell while massaging but not detecting sour odor.
Moved on to egg-bound treatment, although not straining/panting. Over course of one week - Much underside massaging, manually checked vent twice up to first knuckle of index finger, felt all around, do not feel any egg. Inserted olive oil into vent for lubrication anyway (at night while roosting). Administered recommended dosage of calcium (crushed tablets mixed into applesauce, oil) from BYC three times. No egg laid. Could she even be eggbound after all this time - 2 or 3 weeks??
Obstruction treatment: Also syringed olive oil by mouth two times at night. Then crop massage and underside massage. I offer water every night when i go into the coop and she does take a few sips.
We have no long grasses, btw. My girls free-range for large parts of day in fenced yard with run door always open - they go in and out.
She is extremely difficult to get meds into orally, she shakes her head even while wattles being held onto. I have learned from this site about the vent checking and oil lubrication and pretty much everything over the past 4 years.
I'm leaning towards a digestive obstruction based on her symptoms but not finding advice on how to treat besides oil and surgery. Advice on treatment from any seasoned keepers out there? Love my girl as you all love yours! Don't have a poultry vet but would not do bowel surgery anyway.
Symptoms:
Lethargic, periods of walking around, lots of laying around, somewhat stiff walking
Not eating - but rarely will accept a small amount of treat of some kind
Little drinking
Weight Loss
Abnormal Droppings - Mostly urates, small amount clear fluid, tiny amount of normal green/brown dropping that looks gluier than usual. Droppings are getting on her fluff. Droppings are very skinny and squeezed-looking, not wide and looser like normal droppings.
Crop - not enlarged, however not emptying completely at night, some emptying is occurring, no sour smell, feels slightly spongey, no hard masses or lumps at all
Egg Laying - 4 years old, but still occasionally laying. history of thin-shelled eggs after first 2 yrs despite layer crumbles and oyster shell and treats of yogurt. Hasn't laid in weeks. No set egg-laying schedule.
Underside/Abdomen - Firm but not hard, not bloated or liquid-filled, but feels firmer than other hens comparatively. Not hot.
Comb/wattles - normal
Current Condition - getting weaker from weight loss
Treatments so far:
Started out guessing may be sour crop even though not all symptoms present. Gave proper dosage flucanozole according to merck vet manual. Medication says it works for three days after dosage. Crop not very full, partial emptying at night. did not manually empty.
Much crop massaging and checking every morning and night, feeling for lump, liquid, emptying. Smell while massaging but not detecting sour odor.
Moved on to egg-bound treatment, although not straining/panting. Over course of one week - Much underside massaging, manually checked vent twice up to first knuckle of index finger, felt all around, do not feel any egg. Inserted olive oil into vent for lubrication anyway (at night while roosting). Administered recommended dosage of calcium (crushed tablets mixed into applesauce, oil) from BYC three times. No egg laid. Could she even be eggbound after all this time - 2 or 3 weeks??
Obstruction treatment: Also syringed olive oil by mouth two times at night. Then crop massage and underside massage. I offer water every night when i go into the coop and she does take a few sips.
We have no long grasses, btw. My girls free-range for large parts of day in fenced yard with run door always open - they go in and out.
She is extremely difficult to get meds into orally, she shakes her head even while wattles being held onto. I have learned from this site about the vent checking and oil lubrication and pretty much everything over the past 4 years.
I'm leaning towards a digestive obstruction based on her symptoms but not finding advice on how to treat besides oil and surgery. Advice on treatment from any seasoned keepers out there? Love my girl as you all love yours! Don't have a poultry vet but would not do bowel surgery anyway.
