Chicken was fine yesterday, won't move today!

[Alcyone33]

Hi! This is my first post here! I'm lost and need help I have a 3 year old amerucana that just got done molting and is just starting to look like herself again! Yesterday she was running around in my back yard eating and socializing. This morning I went out to feed and she was laying in the middle of the coop and wouldn't move. I picked her up and tried setting her back down she just sat. I looked up egg binding and thought it was that I gave her a warm bath and massaged her. That didn't work. Then I checked her croup after googling, and it felt like a balloon with pudding in it. So ive been giving her yogurt and water with Apple cider vinegar. She didn't move much all day but did drink water and ate the yogurt. She pooped once and it looked normal but there wasn't much. Also when I carry her she acts kind of dizzy....sorry that was a lot of info, just hoping someone can help! Weird side note, she would spill her water and lay in the puddles???

Thank you!

 

[microchick]

Hi alcyone33

Sorry a sick hen brought you to us but glad you sought out help.

It sounds as though you girl may have sour crop.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-treat-sour-crop.613861/

Should help you deal with your ailing girl and have her feeling better in no time.

 

[Alcyone33]

Hi alcyone33

Sorry a sick hen brought you to us but glad you sought out help.

It sounds as though you girl may have sour crop.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-treat-sour-crop.613861/

Should help you deal with your ailing girl and have her feeling better in no time.

Thank you so much! A few people said it's dangerous to make them vomit?? I was going. To try in the morning but maybe I wont!

 

[microchick]

Yes, it is risky. They can easily aspirate stomach contents down their wind pipes and develope pneumonia that is often fatal.

I have a Speckled Sussex hen who is susceptible to crop problems mainly because she is a little piggy and will eat until her crop just won't hold any more. I have vomited her before but won't risk it again. When she impacts, I massage massage massage and then massage her crop some more. Give her olive oil and if that doesn't help her clear her crop, I give her a 100 mg Dulcolax stool softener. Miss Piggy will easily swallow down the contents if I open the soft gel and squirt the contents on a piece of bread.

Also make certain she has access to grit. My chickens have access to a large run where they can scratch and dig and have access to little pieces of gravel. I give grit to my young birds and chicks. It is vital for them to have it in order to help their digestion.

Hope your hen gets to feeling better soon.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you feel inside her vent with one finger to check for a stuck egg? It might be good to watch her closely for a day or so. Massage her crop several times a day which along with giving lots of water may help the crop to empty. I would avoid solid food and whole grains for a day or two to make sure she is digesting. Things like raw or soft egg, a tsp of plain yogurt with probiotics, and adding some electrolytes to her water may be good. Placing her in a dog crate with her food and water would be good to control her intake. Hopefully, she is just getting ready to start laying again and will perk up soon.