Floppy Comb, Clear Mucus, Diarrhea, Coughing

[Kale Chips]

One of my Golden Comets (2-3 yrs old) is acting sick and has a few symptoms. Last night I noticed her comb was flopped over, which is really odd since it always stands tall and firm. I didn't see anything else unusual, so I didn't think much of it. This morning she was making coughing/gurgling/sneezing noises, had bright green/yellow watery poops, and was moving in slow motion. I saw that the floppy comb may indicate dehydration, and so while I was at work my Mother gave the hens some "Durastat" (shown below). She said the hen drank a bit and was willing to free-range for a few minutes (though she has definitely been living life sloooowly). This evening she curiously nibbled some crumble but when she bent down to eat she would cough and it would sound mucus-y. When I picked her up for inspection, she spewed the clear liquid.

I opened her mouth and saw no red flags. Everything was cheery pink, no yellow/red/raised/slimy bits. Didn't smell bad either. When I felt her crop it felt like a water balloon (is that good or bad?). I didn't have a reference so I felt several of my other chickens as well. A couple of them had similar crops, one had a dense crop. Does that just mean some have eaten recently and some haven't?

I'm not sure if "Durastat" is the right call, I also have one packet of save-a-chick somewhere if I can find it. Would that be a better option?

Here is the Durastat:

Any diagnosis or tips on what to do?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This morning she was making coughing/gurgling/sneezing noises, had bright green/yellow watery poops, and was moving in slow motion. I saw that the floppy comb may indicate dehydration

This evening she curiously nibbled some crumble but when she bent down to eat she would cough and it would sound mucus-y. When I picked her up for inspection, she spewed the clear liquid.

When I felt her crop it felt like a water balloon

I'm sorry she's not well.
Do you know when she last laid an egg?

With her spewing liquid, the crop feeling like a water balloon and her making gurgling sounds, I would treat her for crop issues.

I would also feel of her abdomen below the vent between her legs for any bloat/swelling or feeling of fluid.

I would re-check the crop first thing in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink.
If it's still got something in it, then I would begin treatment. You can separate her if needed, that's up to you. If separation stresses her, then keeping her with the flock may be better.
I would make sure she's able to get to water, but I would not worry about her eating. The crop needs to clear before she eats anyway.

The Durastat is probably fine if she's drinking it. Sometimes when a bird doesn't feel well, they won't drink water that has supplements added. I would make some plain fresh water available as well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Kale Chips]

I went out early this morning and felt her crop - it was the same as yesterday. What is a normal morning crop supposed to feel like? I felt a few other chickens as well and hers didn't feel much/any different. I guess I don't really know what I'm feeling for.

I have 8 hens, and I don't exactly know if she is laying. I work later today, but I will check to see if she is in the nesting box before and after.

She drank about 10 good gulps of Durastat water (there is always pure water out there as well).

Comb is still floppy, still has diarrhea, and is still walking in slow motion. From what I could tell, she wasn't having any problems with puking/coughing up mucus, so that was good. Her breathing was quiet (as opposed to gurgly yesterday).

I'll try giving her some coconut oil and massaging her crop. At the very least it probably won't make it worse.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I went out early this morning and felt her crop - it was the same as yesterday. What is a normal morning crop supposed to feel like? I felt a few other chickens as well and hers didn't feel much/any different. I guess I don't really know what I'm feeling for.

Comb is still floppy, still has diarrhea, and is still walking in slow motion. From what I could tell, she wasn't having any problems with puking/coughing up mucus, so that was good. Her breathing was quiet (as opposed to gurgly yesterday).

I'll try giving her some coconut oil and massaging her crop

The crop should be empty first thing in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink.

Feeling of the crop during the day can be misleading since they have been eating.

I would carefully feel of the crop - if it's liquid filled, then I would not massage it, you risk pushing the liquid up and her choking.
I would give the coconut oil though.
It's good that she's breathing better.

When you get a chance, take a photo of her and her poop too.

 

[Kale Chips]

I gave her some coconut oil, which was not easy with all the other hens attacking the treat. I tried picking her up to just let HER eat it, and even though I was super careful not to put pressure on her crop, she vomited clear liquid ALL over. I'm not sure if she choked on it but she then started coughing and had the gurgly breathing again. *sigh*.

I Waited about 15 minutes to see if she would poop, to no avail. I'll try again this afternoon.

Here is a picture, I couldn't get one of her backside (which is super messy) but here you can see her floppy comb.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I gave her some coconut oil, which was not easy with all the other hens attacking the treat. I tried picking her up to just let HER eat it, and even though I was super careful not to put pressure on her crop, she vomited clear liquid ALL over. I'm not sure if she choked on it but she then started coughing and had the gurgly breathing again. *sigh*.

I Waited about 15 minutes to see if she would poop, to no avail. I'll try again this afternoon.

Here is a picture, I couldn't get one of her backside (which is super messy) but here you can see her floppy comb.

I started to mention using caution picking her up, but didn't - I'm sorry!

When I have a hen that is having crop issues (with mine the crop problem is almost always a symptom of an underlying condition like a reproductive disorder), I try to make sure I have their abdomen (between their legs) supported well with my hand and arm underneath. I also do take the hen out of the run to give coconut oil (yes!! the others want it too) I place her on a table or something so she can stand up and I can too (I'm much much older than you!) Standing for her is usually more comfortable and it's easier to handle her - you don't have to worry about pressing the crop either, I have the coconut oil chunks in a little dish and let her eat it.

Hopefully she didn't aspirate but sometimes they do. If she's got a swollen or fluid filled abdomen, then the pressure of picking her up can also restrict the air sacs and they may gurgle too.

If she's got a messy bum, then cleaning her up would be good. It can be a challenge for sure - she will benefit from the clean up so flies don't lay eggs and cause you more problems, but handling her you risk her aspirating fluids.

Keep us posted on how she's doing.

 

[Kale Chips]

She is definitely less active today, and looks pretty unwell. I gave the hens some save-a-chick in their water and again brought out some coconut oil for her to have. Her crop is pretty large, and still feels squishy with liquid. Her behind is pretty poopy (with green poop) and so today I plan to give her a bath. I'm not sure how I will do that, but I'm thinking I'll get a bucket or tote and fill it with lukewarm water. I'll probably let her soak and then use a little brush (maybe a toothbrush?) to get the poop off.

Anything else I can do for her? I've seen the method where you gently tip her in order to get the liquid out of her crop, but that seems a bit cruel. Then again, I would rather be mean for a minute than have her die, but I don't have a clue what I'm doing.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She is definitely less active today, and looks pretty unwell. I gave the hens some save-a-chick in their water and again brought out some coconut oil for her to have. Her crop is pretty large, and still feels squishy with liquid. Her behind is pretty poopy (with green poop) and so today I plan to give her a bath. I'm not sure how I will do that, but I'm thinking I'll get a bucket or tote and fill it with lukewarm water. I'll probably let her soak and then use a little brush (maybe a toothbrush?) to get the poop off.

Anything else I can do for her? I've seen the method where you gently tip her in order to get the liquid out of her crop, but that seems a bit cruel. Then again, I would rather be mean for a minute than have her die, but I don't have a clue what I'm doing.

I would not try to vomit her. Had she been eating/drinking when you checked the crop?

Do you know if she's laid an egg yet?

 

[Kale Chips]

She isn't doing super well but isn't super worse either. This morning her crop was enormous, and this afternoon it's still big, but not as noticeable. I am reasonably sure she laid an egg today so I think that's a good thing. She is drinking lots of water and electrolytes, and the only thing I have seen her eat is papaya (which she ate slowly but seemed to enjoy). I did give her a bath on Thursday which was a very good thing. She reeked so bad, and a gentle scrub with a toothbrush in some soapy water was exactly what she needed. Her comb is getting floppier by the day, and she seems to be slowing down.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She isn't doing super well but isn't super worse either. This morning her crop was enormous, and this afternoon it's still big, but not as noticeable. I am reasonably sure she laid an egg today so I think that's a good thing. She is drinking lots of water and electrolytes, and the only thing I have seen her eat is papaya (which she ate slowly but seemed to enjoy). I did give her a bath on Thursday which was a very good thing. She reeked so bad, and a gentle scrub with a toothbrush in some soapy water was exactly what she needed. Her comb is getting floppier by the day, and she seems to be slowing down.

Crop enormous in the morning - have you been treating her for a crop issue? If not, then I would.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/