Bad case of constipation or something else?

[MissPeppercorn]

Hi Chickenfriends, I am new here, and unfortunately i have a urgend problem to begin with.
A couple of days ago, we noticed that one of our chickens started acting a bit wierd. Nothing dramatic, but she would sit around all day, not eating much and hanging around alone in shady places. First we thought she might be bullied. After all she is pretty low in the pecking order, then we suspected that she is struggling with the heat (We are in New Zealand mid summer right now and she is a beautiful black hen).
Today when i checked on her after work, I had to pull her out behind the laying boxes. She didn't put up much of a fight. Her eyes are clear. Then I noticed her brest being swolen big time and very soft. First I suspectet a tumor, but when I squeezed her gently, she "vomited" this greenisch brown stinki liquid. I did this a couple of times to get as much of that stuff out of her as I could, then gave her some chilliwater with citricidal with a dribbler. Her backside doesn't feel to hard.
I remember back in the days of Massageschool, the tutor once mentioned, that when severly constipated over time people would start vomiting poo since things can't go their natural direction. This is what I suspect is happening with our poor girl right now. So in lack of better ideas i will introduce some laxatives and hope for the best. Does anyone have experience with this problem? I am grateful for every input.

 

[happyhens1972]

Don't introduce laxatives hon xxx

It sounds like she has crop issues. Chickens have a sac on their chest area called a crop. This is where their food goes initially. They eat small stones too and the food and the stones are churned around in this muscular sac in order to 'chew' up the food before it passes down to their digestive tract. This is normal and vital. It is how chickens get past the fact that they don't have teeth!

Sometimes they can get things in a mess in there....if they have eaten something that won't pass through, if they have taken in a lot of long fibrous grass and it's got tied in a knot, or if they are off colour and their system slows down. Then the contents of the crop can go bad and cause this stinky green liquid you are talking about.

It's good that you got her to 'vomit' it up. Now you need to keep doing that, several times a day. Be careful as she can aspirate it and it will damage her lungs. Hold her upside down for a few seconds at a time, gently squeezing her crop at the same time. Let her up to breath. Then repeat. Do this three or four times per session, until you are happy that you have emptied out as much as possible. Repeat for at least three sessions a day.

You should continue to offer her food and water but all food should be soft and moist and have nothing that would require grinding (corn or seed) Scrambled eggs with added garlic is great for this. Also give her natural yoghurt....the probiotics and enzymes will help enormously. I, personally, also offer fishing maggots. They will feed on the rotten gunk in her crop and help break it down but will do her no harm. If you have Nutri Drench or Nutri Drops available out there, use them too....they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream so will help keep her energy up. Honey water will do as a substitute.

It may take several days of doing this before she recovers and in the mean time, it is wise to separate her from the flock to prevent them picking on her while she's under the weather. Ideally, she should still be in their vicinity, rather than totally removed, so as not to cause reintroduction issues but it's important she is kept calm, cool, comfortable and has a constant supply of food and fresh, clean water xxxx

P.S. research 'sour crop', 'slow crop' and 'crop impaction' for more info. Good luck xxx

 

[MissPeppercorn]

Thank you so much for your detaild answer. I will let you know how she is doing.

 

[CCUK]

It does sound like sour crop as @happyhens1972 said. If she has a full crop at night check to see if it is empty first thing in the morning. If it is then food is passing through. Check for poops aswell. Make sure she is drinking though. If it is summer she may well dehydrate.

 

[MissPeppercorn]

Her crop was also full this morning. Anyway, the poor girl died just before lunchtime. Rest in peace Silkie.

 

[micstrachan]

Aw. I’m so sorry.

 

[CCUK]

I'm so sorry.

 

[ChickNanny13]

So sorry to hear