The quick of it (Much more detail below this summary):
We've been treating for doughy crop with lemon/cayenne mixture. If we are to switch to treating with Acidified Copper Sulfate (ACS), the article (below) recommends adding to water for 7-10 days but doesn't mention anything around other food etc. Do we keep isolating our hen and ONLY providing ACS water solution? Do we feed? Do we feed a certain diet? I'm not sure that our hen can last 7-10 days without any food other than ACS treated water. Do we tube feed solution or just hope she drinks naturally throughout the day?
Thank you in advance to this community for existing and helping where possible - so many great people and information here.
More backstory:
We unexpectedly lost a hen last week and think it was an un-diagnosed crop issue. After checking all other hens, one other also appears to be in a similar predicament, though hopefully caught early enough.
We've been treating what feels like a doughy crop for about 3 days now. We started with just Lemon/Cayenne/Ginger/Cinnamon for 1.5 days, noticed improvement in the morning crop (down to a large marble size, from a peach). We transitioned to greek yogurt to get some calories in her (she is VERY light, about 1.5-6kgs (~ 3.4lbs). We don't have a baseline on her weight but she is emaciated, sunken V. We're worried she is just too thin and needs to get some weight on her. Anyway, I think we're going back to strict lemon mixture for the next day or two to see how she reacts and hopefully she has enough calories in her to make it. In the meantime, I want to buy some Acidified Copper Sulfate to get ahead of if we need to start using this instead of the lemon mixture (or in combination of).
We've been diligently reading and following the guide here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/
Same ask as above: If we are to switch to treating with Acidified Copper Sulfate (ACS), the article recommends adding to water for 7-10 days but doesn't mention anything around other food etc. Do we keep isolating her and ONLY providing ACS water solution? Do we feed? Do we feed a certain diet? I'm not sure that our hen can last 7-10 days without any food other than ACS treated water. Should we tube feed her this water solution (at what dose?). We're currently comfortable tube feeding her, which is a HUGE savings in time. 1ml syringe was a slow process.
@TwoCrows I'm tagging you because you wrote the article - I hope this is proper etiquette in asking for help, apologies if not!
Further info requested:
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
She's a red sex-link, 2.5 years old, very underweight at 1.5kgs (3.4-5lbs)
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
She is a bit lethargic but not TOO bad. She has a doughy crop in the morning. No noticeable smell from her mouth, but we've been feeding her lemon/cayenne/garlic water/etc. We first noticed that when she was free-ranging, she would not come when called (she would always runs for treats). She was hiding with her partner (the one who died last week) under some bushes, being generally antisocial. She would avoid me more than normal.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Thinking back, maybe 2 weeks.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
We had 4 hens, we lost one to what we think is the same thing. 2 hens appear perfectly normal, good weight, lots of energy.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Semi-abrupt feed change about a month ago.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Drinking some, we have been isolating her and only feeding her water/garlic water/lemon mixture/yogurt (tube feeding).
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Runny/mucousy/some black gritty
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Above
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Looking to treat at home.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Wood shavings, just cleaned. We're letting her roost in the coop at night but isolating her in the morning before she can eat/drink (so we are fully controlling her diet right now, other than the spider I saw her eat when she went in the coop last night).
We've been treating for doughy crop with lemon/cayenne mixture. If we are to switch to treating with Acidified Copper Sulfate (ACS), the article (below) recommends adding to water for 7-10 days but doesn't mention anything around other food etc. Do we keep isolating our hen and ONLY providing ACS water solution? Do we feed? Do we feed a certain diet? I'm not sure that our hen can last 7-10 days without any food other than ACS treated water. Do we tube feed solution or just hope she drinks naturally throughout the day?
Thank you in advance to this community for existing and helping where possible - so many great people and information here.
More backstory:
We unexpectedly lost a hen last week and think it was an un-diagnosed crop issue. After checking all other hens, one other also appears to be in a similar predicament, though hopefully caught early enough.
We've been treating what feels like a doughy crop for about 3 days now. We started with just Lemon/Cayenne/Ginger/Cinnamon for 1.5 days, noticed improvement in the morning crop (down to a large marble size, from a peach). We transitioned to greek yogurt to get some calories in her (she is VERY light, about 1.5-6kgs (~ 3.4lbs). We don't have a baseline on her weight but she is emaciated, sunken V. We're worried she is just too thin and needs to get some weight on her. Anyway, I think we're going back to strict lemon mixture for the next day or two to see how she reacts and hopefully she has enough calories in her to make it. In the meantime, I want to buy some Acidified Copper Sulfate to get ahead of if we need to start using this instead of the lemon mixture (or in combination of).
We've been diligently reading and following the guide here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/
Same ask as above: If we are to switch to treating with Acidified Copper Sulfate (ACS), the article recommends adding to water for 7-10 days but doesn't mention anything around other food etc. Do we keep isolating her and ONLY providing ACS water solution? Do we feed? Do we feed a certain diet? I'm not sure that our hen can last 7-10 days without any food other than ACS treated water. Should we tube feed her this water solution (at what dose?). We're currently comfortable tube feeding her, which is a HUGE savings in time. 1ml syringe was a slow process.
@TwoCrows I'm tagging you because you wrote the article - I hope this is proper etiquette in asking for help, apologies if not!
Further info requested:
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
She's a red sex-link, 2.5 years old, very underweight at 1.5kgs (3.4-5lbs)
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
She is a bit lethargic but not TOO bad. She has a doughy crop in the morning. No noticeable smell from her mouth, but we've been feeding her lemon/cayenne/garlic water/etc. We first noticed that when she was free-ranging, she would not come when called (she would always runs for treats). She was hiding with her partner (the one who died last week) under some bushes, being generally antisocial. She would avoid me more than normal.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Thinking back, maybe 2 weeks.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
We had 4 hens, we lost one to what we think is the same thing. 2 hens appear perfectly normal, good weight, lots of energy.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Semi-abrupt feed change about a month ago.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Drinking some, we have been isolating her and only feeding her water/garlic water/lemon mixture/yogurt (tube feeding).
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Runny/mucousy/some black gritty
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Above
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Looking to treat at home.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Wood shavings, just cleaned. We're letting her roost in the coop at night but isolating her in the morning before she can eat/drink (so we are fully controlling her diet right now, other than the spider I saw her eat when she went in the coop last night).
So we've gone light on food and water for the day. She is noticeably more lethargic today compared to the last few days, so something is not right. We're hoping for the best, trying everything, who knows.
