Help asap! Sick hen with possible aspiration

[MomJones]

That artical was wonderdul thank you! The vet gave me 6 days worth to bring home of the baytril so a total of 7 days. However I'm not sure if I believe anything he says oe does because he also said the normal temp is 102-103.

I'm not sure when she laid her last egg. I don't really have a way to determine who is laying in the coop but she hasn't laid in the 4 days I've had her seperated. I checked her abdomen when I brought her in the first day and it didn't feel swollen. I'm only starting my third year with chickens though and have never experienced any sicknesses yet, so I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

She has only pooped once today and it was dark green, not as watery as it has been.

From the article it does sound like sour crop. It doesn't sound like impacted or doughy crop. She has been super sick though so I do think it was caused by an illness and not just slow crop. The vet did say she didn't have coccidiosis or worms according to the fecal sample... However I don't know if he even knows what he's looking for now. He said he thinks she has enteritis and that's what the Baytril was for. However, if it was not caused by enteritis then I am only making it worse by giving her the Baytril since it will kill even more good bacteria. I haven't changed the eaves or anything so I don't know what else would have caused it. She has never had a slow crop before.

Oh and I'm not sure about her breath. She has been stinky for a while but I thought it was mostly the diarrhea. But the liquid she vomited smells absolutely horrible.

And as soon as I figure out how to upload pictures I will get some. Not sure what all to take pictures of but will do my best.

Thank you!!!

Big Mama I'm following your progress.

 

[MomJones]

She didn't make it

I'm so sorry to hear that.

 

[Kk the chicken lover]

Sorry this is quite a story and I'm new to the group. Everyone I've asked in person (including a farm vet) has given me a different answer, but I'm desperate and going to try one more time so here goes...

4 days ago I noticed my 2 year old RIR hen was lethargic and not wanting to walk. I examined her and she had poo all over her bottom. She had no interest in eating or drinking and had noticeable weight loss. I thought maybe egg bound, so I brought her in, gave her two warm epsom salt baths and calcium doses in water. Two days later no egg and still sick. At this point I could getnher to drink some electrolyte water and eat a few meal worms. Some people said maybe worms...I tried apple cider vinegar with cayenne pepper in water and went to get food grade diatomaceous earth from local Farm Store when the lady there told me it might be coccidiosis. At this point I took a fecal sample (which was now mere watery green diarrhea) to the only farm vet within 100 miles. It tested negative for parasites and coccidiosis. The receptionist there told me I could Google all day but the only way to know for sure would be to bring her in and have an exam because the vets "went to school for this". I went and told vet all her symptoms. He took her temp-106. He checked her crop and looked for sites of infection on her body. He determined it was an internal bacterial infection and gave her a dose of baytril and an anti-inflammatory for fever. He opened up her beak and basically squirted the stuff in, and I never saw her swallow. As soon as we left she started gurggling horribly and gaping her mouth open to breath. I am pretty positive "vet who went to school for this" shot the meds straight down her trachea. Even I know you can't do that. So now my poor baby won't eat or drink anything and can't breath. The vet visit was yesterday, and she is still alive this morning but now she spit up clear fluid from her beak earlier. At first I thought maybe she was getting out some of the meds from her lungs but when I researched it came up most likely aspirated pneumonia. I'm so desperate and want to help. She's a fighter and hasn't given up yet amd I don't want to give up yet either. Is there ANYTHING at all I can do for her??? Thank you for taking the time to read this.

I am sorry about your chicken my chicken is sick too she has a big lump in her breast filled with water and every time that she bends down liquid comes out of her beak so does your chicken have a big lump in it’s breast? And by the way I am sorry that I read your text late

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I am sorry about your chicken my chicken is sick too she has a big lump in her breast filled with water and every time that she bends down liquid comes out of her beak so does your chicken have a big lump in it’s breast? And by the way I am sorry that I read your text late

I'm guessing that big watery lump on the breast is likely the crop if it is on the right side just below the neck. That's where they quickly store food and then it works its way to the proventriculus where digestive enzymes are added (like our stomach) before heading to the gizzard.

 

[Kk the chicken lover]

I'm guessing that big watery lump on the breast is likely the crop if it is on the right side just below the neck. That's where they quickly store food and then it works its way to the proventriculus before heading to the gizzard.

thank you good to know I have tried massaging the lump and trying to get all of the liquid out from it’s beak and I got most of it out and my chicken is feeling better

 

[ChickenCanoe]

When chickens wake up in the morning, they'll fill their crop with food. Sometimes it will bulge to the point that it looks like feathers are missing.
It is the one organ that is external to the body cavity attached to the top of the right breast under the skin. It is basically an expanded pouch portion of the esophagus.

 

[Kk the chicken lover]

Jojo penguin angel and Queen jr

 

[Kk the chicken lover]

Sorry forgot to say that these are my chicks names

 

[aart]

thank you good to know I have tried massaging the lump and trying to get all of the liquid out from it’s beak and I got most of it out and my chicken is feeling better

Best not to do that, it can 'drown' them.
Have picked up a bird that just drank too much and it ran out all down my bare leg.

 

[BigMoma3]

I am sorry about your chicken my chicken is sick too she has a big lump in her breast filled with water and every time that she bends down liquid comes out of her beak so does your chicken have a big lump in it’s breast? And by the way I am sorry that I read your text late

She didn't. Her crop actually felt empty. It was somewhat squishy but I thought that was what an empty crop felt like. I definitely know what a full crop feels like and that wasn't it. I would say yours might have a sour crop now due from an impacted crop (I'm no expert but I did ALOT of research when my girl was sick). And I agree, it is very dangerous to get the fluid out. I tried with my hen and alot came out. I'm hoping that's not what ultimately caused her death, but she was so sick and hadn't eaten or drank much at all so it's hard to tell. I hope she gets completely better! Your pics are great!