EMERGENCY- I THINK I'M LOSING HER

[labpac4]

Just returned last night and noticed by Rhode Island Red Hen 2 yrs old didn't look right. She is usually very active and rules the roost. She was very quiet and her comb was flopped down. This morning when I opened the coop to let them out into the run she walked out slowly and pooped very loose yellow; crown still down.

I thought she might be egg bound so I gave her a warm bath and tried to coat vent with lubricant. When I did the loose yellow excretion appeared again and she became very agitated. When I stopped and returned her to the coop clear liquid drizzled from her beak. She is very weak and can hardly walk. Is there anything I can try?

 

[leadwolf1]

Bright yellow poop is the sign of a bacterial infection. When was the last time she layed? Search yellow poop and you should get some hits.

Have you checked her for impacted/sour crop?

 

[Reurra]

http://chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

The Famous Poop Chart. This might help, it might not.

Clear liquid from the mouth could be impacted crop or sour crop.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/387599/lethargic-rooster-clear-liquid-from-mouth

 

[labpac4]

How do I check for an impacted/sour crop?


Not sure when she last laid; I have been away since last Tuesday and my daughter has been caring for my flock.

 

[NovaAman]

If you have any poultry drench, I'd consider giving that. Its a quick boost. Smell the liquid coming from her mouth. If it smells foul, you have sour crop. You may also need to start her on a round of penicillin or other antibiotic for the other problem. You may need to put her in a cat or dog carrier as well so you can administer treatments easier, and have her isolated from everyone else.

Hope she pulls through.

 

[labpac4]

Thank you!

 

[chkn]

Did you use a finger inside the vent? Straight in and around. Don't go down because that's the intestine. I use olive oil and oil them up good inside and out. Feel inside for an egg or a soft egg shell. Also, try droppering a little aspirin and calcium in some water (just may 1/8th of a plain aspirin crushed and 1/8-1/4 calcium human supplement or Tums). What does the crop feel like? A little clear fluid discharge from time to time is okay but the yellow sounds like egg yolk. She could be wormy also so use gloves.

 

[chkn]

BTW, Leadwolf has some good advice. It never hurts to treat for infection. Sometimes they get kidney infections just like people.

 

[speckledhen]

Could the yellow have been egg yolk? That may signal a reproductive infection called egg yolk peritonitis. Her age and her breed, especially if she is hatchery stock, would say that could be a distinct possibility.

The water from her mouth could be you pressing on her crop after she just drank water.

 

[4Shadow]

Far from an expert, but I think we may have just gone through 'sour crop'. In our case the crop was a very large bulging sac of liquid - very fluid feeling. Just a warning - our girl was so full we hardly did anything while holding her and brown fluid spewed out her beak. I was right in front of her on my knees while my spouse held her, so it was uh, surprising to say the least. Also noticed in our case - there was not a real detectable odor to this fluid.
While the hen being 'vomited' like that is considered risky as it can aspirate into her lungs - there was so much and she was doing so poorly, we got most of it out. A stringy load of grass was expelled too - not sure if that was a contributor. While I think this was a symptom of an underlying condition with her - she was vastly improved the next day (yesterday) and appears well again today. Just our 2 cents.