fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

Update

Friday 5pm: Dosed Lydia with Nystatin and a stool softener, offered her some cat food and watermelon, she took a couple pecks. I shut her up in the brooder with food, water, and a little fresh straw in the back for a bed.

Saturday 7:30am: Her crop felt about half full, a little crunchy and squishy. I dosed her with Nystatin and a stool softener, and she ate a few pecks of egg/coconut oil. I tossed the overnight food, which didn't look as if she'd been eating. Once I put her down she slowly and somewhat gingerly mingled with the flock, eating a little crumbles and crushed egg shells.

(on the left)

When I go out later this morning to run my errands I plan to confine her in the brooder with some of the egg/oil mixture so she can eat without being mobbed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update

Friday 5pm: Dosed Lydia with Nystatin and a stool softener, offered her some cat food and watermelon, she took a couple pecks. I shut her up in the brooder with food, water, and a little fresh straw in the back for a bed.

Saturday 7:30am: Her crop felt about half full, a little crunchy and squishy. I dosed her with Nystatin and a stool softener, and she ate a few pecks of egg/coconut oil. I tossed the overnight food, which didn't look as if she'd been eating. Once I put her down she slowly and somewhat gingerly mingled with the flock, eating a little crumbles and crushed egg shells.
View attachment 3914950
View attachment 3914951
(on the left)

When I go out later this morning to run my errands I plan to confine her in the brooder with some of the egg/oil mixture so she can eat without being mobbed.

She's still not feeling up to par is she.

It's good that she's still mingling with the others, even if it's a short period of time.

 

[fuzzi]

She's still not feeling up to par is she.

It's good that she's still mingling with the others, even if it's a short period of time.

The fact that she is coming out and mingling is an improvement.

I want to get more nutrients in her. Eggs still the best option?

Some suggest feeding baby food by syringe.

 

[fuzzi]

Update

Saturday 5pm

Dosed Lydia with the stool softener and Nystatin again. I'd left her out with the flock all afternoon.

Saw her poop:

Spoiler: Poop

I'll allow the poop experts to chime in at this point.

 

[The Coop Crew]

No comments on the poop but I wanted to follow along on your thread so I’m commenting to follow along!

 

[NanaK]

Update

Saturday 5pm

Dosed Lydia with the stool softener and Nystatin again. I'd left her out with the flock all afternoon.

Saw her poop:

Spoiler: Poop

View attachment 3915477
View attachment 3915478

I'll allow the poop experts to chime in at this point.

@Wyorp Rock will be better to access this than I.

To me this looks like a hen who is not eating enough but at least something is passing through. She is not completely blocked up.

Also if she has coccidia, her poops will be runny.

As the material in her crop breaks up and starts to pass, hopefully she will start eating better. If coccidia are present, the corid should also make her feel better and more like eating.

I would continue what you are doing. This can take a little while to resolve. I would do a short min or so of crop massage a couple times a day when possible.

 

[fuzzi]

Here are a couple videos of Lydia this evening, about 6pm:

Lydia video 1

(she's in the middle of the frame, tail low)

Lydia video 2

She did mingle with the others (video 1), and eat chicken crumbles (both videos), which seems to be an improvement.

At one point Zacchaeus attempted to mate with one of the pullets, who squawked and ran away, leaving Zack looking confused. He then walked behind Lydia, grabbed her by the neck and attempted The Act. She squawked, threw him off, turned around and gave him "what for"! He backed off, looking unsure of the situation. It did my heart good to see her fired up.

She's underneath the wheelbarrow tonight, which is fine. I didn't try to pressure her into going back into the brooder, which I was using to give her a place to recover in peace.

 

[fuzzi]

@Wyorp Rock will be better to access this than I.

To me this looks like a hen who is not eating enough but at least something is passing through. She is not completely blocked up.

Also if she has coccidia, her poops will be runny.

As the material in her crop breaks up and starts to pass, hopefully she will start eating better. If coccidia are present, the corid should also make her feel better and more like eating.

I would continue what you are doing. This can take a little while to resolve. I would do a short min or so of crop massage a couple times a day when possible.

I have been doing the massage. Lydia is trying to avoid me, now.

I gave her stool softener again this afternoon, wondering if I should continue, based upon her poop.

 

[fuzzi]

No comments on the poop but I wanted to follow along on your thread so I’m commenting to follow along!

Thank you for visiting. Come and comment all you like!

 

[fuzzi]

Today was the first time I have seen Zacchaeus attempt to mate. After he was rebuffed by Lydia he must have made advances on another hen as I heard a great commotion and witnessed Zack being chased by one of the Sussex hens. Ouch. Not good for the ego.