Collapsed egg hanging out of vent

[azygous]

Have you read my article on crop disorders? https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/ It may help cut down on any confusion as to what you're dealing with.

It may be her crop feels like it's a sour crop because she's drinking lots of water, which isn't a problem in itself. You really can't gauge the condition of a crop accurately unless you check it first thing in the morning to verify if it's emptying properly overnight. At that time, you can assess whether or not you need to treat a disorder.

I never recommend withholding food or water for any reason other than immediately following crop surgery to restrict hard foods that could damage the incision.

It doesn't usually hurt a hen to go two or even three days without eating, but if she starts to lose weight and becomes more lethargic, you may want to think about intervening with tube feeding. It's not a complicated medical procedure. Anyone can do it, and I can instruct you. But you will need to obtain the equipment. A small animal feeding tube and syringe can be bought from any vet for just a few dollars or you can use plastic oxygen tubing or aquarium tubing. Then you'd need to find an ample syringe to fit it that can handle a sufficient volume of liquid food. The food can be mixed at home with raw egg, a little yogurt and baby food or you can buy baby bird formula at a pet shop.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I believe we now have a sour crop. Her crop is squishy, she is drinking a lot but not eating and not pooping.

Not sure if this was going on before or perhaps caused by the antibiotic?

I have massaged her crop and afterwards white liquidy poop came out. She is very inactive but seems alert.

I began giving her Miconazole Nitrate 4%.
1. Does this seem like an appropriate treatment?
2. Should I continue with the antibiotic and calcium citrate?
3. She is not eating but drinking a lot. Should I allow her access to water or have her fast for a period of time (this would require me separating her which I was trying to avoid).

I'm sorry to keep nagging you all. I just really don't want to lose her. PLEASE HELP!
@azygous
@Wyorp Rock

Try reading the article that @azygous posted.
The crop issue is usually a Symptom of whatever else is going on with the hen. Since she seems to be having reproductive problems, then having a slow crop is a common symptom.

I wouldn't stop the antibiotic, give the full course.

 

[rehsanipoor]

I read the article, thank you very informative and helpful.

This morning her crop was still full (felt like a water balloon). I've been massaging it regularly and she has pooped a little and her activity level improved throughout the day.

I've also been syringe feeding (just with a medicine syringe) watered down yogurt. She also took some from a bowl on her own later in the day.

I will get the tube feeding supplies (just in case).

So at this point should I continue with antibiotic, micozanole, and calcium citrate?

I will check her crop in the morning. Thank you SO much.

 

[azygous]

Yes, keep up with the calcium, antibiotic and miconazole, the third one for a full seven days, twice a day.

 

[rehsanipoor]

I'm on it! Thank you so much for your advice and expertise. I am so grateful.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You're getting very expert advice from our best educators. I just want to make a practical suggestion to help with checking her crop in the morning. Since chickens don't eat or drink at night, you might take up any food or water at night so she can't get to it early in the morning before you have a chance to check her crop. Then return it as soon as you check her. When we had an injured bird, we put her food and water on top of her crate before we went to bed, then put it back in the crate as soon as we got up.

 

[rehsanipoor]

Yes. Good suggestion. They actually don't have food and water access in the coop. It's in the run which she cannot access until the door opens (it's an automatic). This morning I went out early to check her before she went down and I will do it again tomorrow. I'm assuming it should feel totally empty? Not all squishy?

Thank you again for the practical and medical advice! It is reassuring. Last night I stared at the ceiling for hours worrying that I was doing something wrong. Getting advice from people "in the know" is such a relief. I know you are all busy with your own lives and animals so I am very grateful that you take to help me with mine!

 

[rehsanipoor]

Just checked her crop, it was not empty. It does feel smaller than it did yesterday, but still a bit squishy. I will continue with amox., clomazole, and calcium.

I am worried about her nutrition at this point. I bought a scale and will weigh her today but I am pretty sure she has lost weight (although I don't know what she weight before this all started) Is it okay to offer her mash and scrambled egg?

How do I know if tube feeding is necessary? I am kind of freaked out at the notion!

 

[rehsanipoor]

p.s. I've been feeding Purina Layena Crumbles Layer Poultry crumbles.

 

[azygous]

Yes, offer anything you think she might eat. It's trial and error with a sick chicken. You will tube feed when she adamantly refuses all food and water and is getting weaker. Tube feeding is a last resort to try to jump start an appetite again by supplying energy and nutrients. Tube feeding for more than a day or two will actually work at cross purposes by causing a sick chicken to forget what it feels like to be hungry. Hunger is needed to trigger the will to eat, but it also requires energy to follow through on the hunger signal.