Chicken unable to eat or drink

[barbaraearley]

I have a three year old Rhode Island Red hen who just over a week ago simply did not look right. I separated her and found her mouth full of very thick clear mucus and her mouth had a dreadful smell. Although I could not see lesions in her mouth and she showed no other symptoms except not moving around like she usually does I started treating her for canker. Gave her Metronidazole and made up a solution of copper sulphate for her and all the flock. Initially she was drinking as there was frequent mucus on top of the water but she was only eating very little. I put her back with the flock to see if that would perk her up and get her eating but she just went off to a quiet corner on her own so brought her in again into the hospital cage. She had finished the course of Metronidazole and copper sulphate and the only change was that there was far less mucus and the smell had gone. Thought now perhaps it was a respiratory infection so have started her on Tylan soluble and VitNex plus electrolytes but she seems to be losing weight. 1.5 kg when I weighed her today and I can feel a hard ball just at the top of her neck. It’s about the size of a small marble and appears to be static. I am dropper feeding her food and water but a lot of the time she shakes her head and it all comes out.
She is still very alert and very strong when I am trying to get water/food into her.
She has been on Tylan for four doses and there is no change. Have been advised to put her back with the flock to see if that encourages her to eat but am afraid she may have a tumour that’s stopping food and drink going down.
Don’t know where to go from here. Have even given her yeast mouth gel!

 

[WVduckchick]

Have you checked her crop first thing in the morning? It should be empty and flat before she eats anything.

 

[micstrachan]

Hello and welcome!
I agree it could be a crop issue. I’m having a hard time understanding where the hard ball is, and have some concern it could be a tumor, as well.
Another possibility in my mind is infectious coryza, which should respond to antibiotics, since it is bacterial. Unfortunately, I haven’t committed the antibiotic applications and regimens to memory, so you would need to look it up or maybe someone else will chime in as to whether they think infectious coryza is a possibility and how to treat it. Good luck! I do hope you grt some answers. You may end up needing to tube feed if she is wasting away.

 

[barbaraearley]

Hello and welcome!
I agree it could be a crop issue. I’m having a hard time understanding where the hard ball is, and have some concern it could be a tumor, as well.
Another possibility in my mind is infectious coryza, which should respond to antibiotics, since it is bacterial. Unfortunately, I haven’t committed the antibiotic applications and regimens to memory, so you would need to look it up or maybe someone else will chime in as to whether they think infectious coryza is a possibility and how to treat it. Good luck! I do hope you grt some answers. You may end up needing to tube feed if she is wasting away.

I started her on Tylan 1/8 teaspoon in 10ml water and give morning and evening. Made up electrolytes and am giving that with a dropper every two hours. Also soaked down a little of her pellets added raw egg and a little water and syringing that every two hours. Have tried moisten bread, mashed up sardine, scrambled egg. I am also putting a little Daktarin gel on her tongue four times a day in case it’s a yeast infection. She is bright and alert but just won’t eat or drink . Have her inside in a crate temp 15degrees.
The thick mucus is now more of a little phlegm and there is no smell. Really frightened when I syringe or drop feed her in case I aspirate her!
Have tube fed puppies but never chickens! I do not know how to do that. What size tube etc.
I am determined I am not going to lose this girl!

 

[barbaraearley]

I started her on Tylan 1/8 teaspoon in 10ml water and give morning and evening. Made up electrolytes and am giving that with a dropper every two hours. Also soaked down a little of her pellets added raw egg and a little water and syringing that every two hours. Have tried moisten bread, mashed up sardine, scrambled egg. I am also putting a little Daktarin gel on her tongue four times a day in case it’s a yeast infection. She is bright and alert but just won’t eat or drink . Have her inside in a crate temp 15degrees.
The thick mucus is now more of a little phlegm and there is no smell. Really frightened when I syringe or drop feed her in case I aspirate her!
Have tube fed puppies but never chickens! I do not know how to do that. What size tube etc.
I am determined I am not going to lose this girl!

Yes her crop is completely empty. The small round ball situated in her throat just below her ears seems to have gone.

 

[WVduckchick]

Glad the ball is gone and her crop is empty. Also weighing her is an excellent idea. I've read if they lose more than 5% of their weight, that's when tube feeding becomes more needed.
@casportpony is our tube champ, and has some great info and links for help, if it comes to that.

What would you rate her on this scale?