fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[lightm]

I give the stool softener whole, it doesn't have to be squeezed out, the outer coating is just a gel coating, it will dissolve quickly once in the crop.

I have to disagree with this. We gave the stool softener whole ONCE and the gel coating was never dissolved as it was found in Light's poop 3 weeks later once her crop started to move better.

 

[fuzzi]

Coffee is brewing, can address some of the suggestions.

We've all been on the internet for a while, none of us are novices, so we all know about conflicting experiences, suggestions. Different personal observations doesn't mean that one is wrong.

I'm kind of in information overload and am now just relying on those who visit me here.

I have NOT wormed the flock, it's on the list for after I get Lydia resolved or improved.

Oh I am so sorry that you are dealing with crop issues. It can be quite frustrating.

Did you discard the stool softener capsule and squeeze out the content and gave it to Lydia? I learned the hard way not to feed the whole capsule...

Did she have any egg laying issues? (underlying condition)

We have dealt with crop issues extensively at this point... DH and I have also read so many threads on crop issues. So many of them are like what you are experiencing: tried so many things including coconut oil, stool softener, acidified copper sulphate and no success. But one day all of a sudden, after so many weeks, the crop magically cleared... sometimes it coincides with right after deworming.

So I know how frustrated you are. Take a deep breath and be patient.

We have noticed they always really like watermelon with crop problems because they need a lot of liquid to flush out the crop. So it is important to keep Lydia hydrated. Perhaps offer her watermelon again.

I recommend you try slippery elm. Last summer our hen Light had a persistent case of impacted crop and we drove 2 hours to Raleigh hoping for a crop surgery. The vet did other things instead and prescribed a few things including slippery elm. She got better very soon after that. This summer she got impacted crop again (likely due to molting, her crop tends to slow during molt) and we just went to a co-op and bought slippery elm. And it worked again! Coincidentally, we dewormed the whole flock the day before we fed Light slippery elm so it could have been the dewormer (live roundworm was found in Light's poop.)

I wish you good luck and keep us posted. Make sure she is hydrated.

edited to add: this is what we bought in a health food store locally. But any powder should do. I can specify the dosage if you decide to give it a try.

Thank you.

I have been feeding the whole gel cap of stool softener.

I have no idea if she's been laying or not. I rarely see the hens laying eggs.

I'm trying to be patient, but I see her wasting away despite all my efforts. I don't usually cry, but I did last night.

I have offered her watermelon, she just won't eat anything at this point.

I'll make a note about the slippery elm, and would appreciate the dosage information.

I usually just give small hardened chunks of coconut oil, if they don't eat it, I pop the pieces into the beak.

I give the stool softener whole, it doesn't have to be squeezed out, the outer coating is just a gel coating, it will dissolve quickly once in the crop.

Is her eye dialated? Just asking. You don't see lice/mites right?

The only other thing I can suggest is to try a flush to see if that gets things moving. 1teaspoon Epsom salts to 1/2cup warm water tubed directly into the crop 2x a day for three days. If you can't do 2x a day, then do once.

Of course, asking other's suggestions is always encouraged, all I can recommend is what has worked for me and a few others I have helped. If azygous is on, you may want to give her a shout and see if she has better suggestions. She is very good with crop issues and another set of eyes to look at symptoms/photos and what you have done so far may see something I or others have missed.

I've seen azygous' posts here, and she has an incredible wealth of knowledge. I think I have read an article by her about crop issues.

I haven't seen any fauna on any of the flock. I do check on a regular basis.

The flush is probably an excellent idea, but I am not sure if I can do it. Getting a helper is difficult, I am doing everything on my own.

Back to work...

 

[lightm]

I'm trying to be patient, but I see her wasting away despite all my efforts. I don't usually cry, but I did last night.

It sounds like she could have underlying issues and I probably would start to give antibiotics at this point if she were my birds. I think you can still buy certain ones online like here. For Poopy's crop issue, it went away as soon as we started dose her with Baytril.

I will provide dosage of slippery elm shortly.

PS: My last post may come off as short and abrupt which is not my intent. I have a lot of respect for @Wyorp Rock as she helps out the BYC community SO MUCH. Sometimes my writing could use a 2nd look but I do stand my ground on stool softener.

@fuzzi Shipping takes time (if you decide to order antibiotics). I can give you antibiotics, slippery elm, and dewormer if you don't mind driving down to Wilmington. But I feel like you are busy with your work and it won't be too feasible. It is an offer. The Valbezen dewormer we bought at the feed store was $90!!! It is a huge bottle and I so want to share it with others.

 

[fuzzi]

It sounds like she could have underlying issues and I probably would start to give antibiotics at this point if she were my birds. I think you can still buy certain ones online like here. For Poopy's crop issue, it went away as soon as we started dose her with Baytril.

I will provide dosage of slippery elm shortly.

PS: My last post may come off as short and abrupt which is not my intent. I have a lot of respect for @Wyorp Rock as she helps out the BYC community SO MUCH. Sometimes my writing could use a 2nd look but I do stand my ground on stool softener.

@fuzzi Shipping takes time (if you decide to order antibiotics). I can give you antibiotics, slippery elm, and dewormer if you don't mind driving down to Wilmington. But I feel like you are busy with your work and it won't be too feasible. It is an offer. The Valbezen dewormer we bought at the feed store was $90!!! It is a huge bottle and I so want to share it with others.

I'm hoping my dh will be able to handle a long week at the beach in October, Topsail Island. If we do go and your offer is still open maybe we could arrange a meet.

 

[NanaK]

I'm trying to be patient, but I see her wasting away despite all my efforts. I don't usually cry, but I did last night.

 

[lightm]

I'm hoping my dh will be able to handle a long week at the beach in October, Topsail Island. If we do go and your offer is still open maybe we could arrange a meet.

Yes the offer will still stand. I will be away on 10/23-10/26.

 

[fuzzi]

Yes the offer will still stand. I will be away on 10/23-10/26.

I think my reservation is for the week before.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, her eye was dilated.

I'm getting ready for work, will reply more as I am able.

Thank you, both.

Let us know if the eye is still dilated when you get home.

I'm so sorry you're not seeing improvement. I so wish that Lydia gets better soon. I know you are doing all you can for her. It's upsetting and you can feel helpless. I've been there, holding one, nothing working and not knowing what else to do. Oh my, my heart goes out to you.

I have to disagree with this. We gave the stool softener whole ONCE and the gel coating was never dissolved as it was found in Light's poop 3 weeks later once her crop started to move better.

PS: My last post may come off as short and abrupt which is not my intent. I have a lot of respect for @Wyorp Rock as she helps out the BYC community SO MUCH. Sometimes my writing could use a 2nd look but I do stand my ground on stool softener.

@lightm It's all good!
All us of have different experiences and outcomes, this is how I and the rest of us learn. There are some things that we feel strongly about, no worries! One of my things is chick grit, go figure

 

[fuzzi]

Update
Monday 5pm

When I came home from work Lydia was walking around the run, and attempted to eat watermelon and crumbles feed. I didn't notice that she ate much.

Her crop was half full and squishy.

I noticed she was making some weird head movements, like a disco hen:

Eyes still dilated @Wyorp Rock

I gave her Nystatin, but not the stool softener.

I was thinking of syringing some egg yolk and coconut oil mix in her mouth again.

If there's anyone you want to tag I don't mind.

 

[fuzzi]

Update
Monday 5pm

When I came home from work Lydia was walking around the run, and attempted to eat watermelon and crumbles feed. I didn't notice that she ate much.

Her crop was half full and squishy.

I noticed she was making some weird head movements, like a disco hen:

Eyes still dilated @Wyorp Rock

I gave her Nystatin, but not the stool softener.

I was thinking of syringing some egg yolk and coconut oil mix in her mouth again.

If there's anyone you want to tag I don't mind.

In another thread @azygous said the head movements are related to the crop issues:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-making-weird-movements.1562338/post-26515733

And here's her thread on crop issues:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/