HELP! I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO!!!!

[chicken gal]

Help! My 2 and a half yr oldbarred rock, Rosie, is not acting like her normal self. She was just fine two days ago. She just stands and her eyes are either closed or half closed. It scares me because this is what happened to my white leghorn and she died. This was maybe half a year ago or even more. She was the first one out when I opened the little chicken door but when I fed her scratch she did not even move. All my chickens are fine except for one with arthitis. Rosie is on the higher part of the pecking order, and was the same with the white leghorn. PLEASE HELP BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!

 

[linz44]

Is it possible it is her crop? My hen had the same symptoms this morning and I found out that it was her crop and it was actually a sour crop. She wouldn't eat or drink and barely moved around.

 

[linz44]

And when I picked her up a slimy substance oozed from her beak. If it is a sour crop or a slow crop you can feel their crop distended out and either hard or squishy.

 

[Eggcessive]

Help! My 2 and a half yr oldbarred rock, Rosie, is not acting like her normal self. She was just fine two days ago. She just stands and her eyes are either closed or half closed. It scares me because this is what happened to my white leghorn and she died. This was maybe half a year ago or even more. She was the first one out when I opened the little chicken door but when I fed her scratch she did not even move. All my chickens are fine except for one with arthitis. Rosie is on the higher part of the pecking order, and was the same with the white leghorn. PLEASE HELP BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!

I would really look her over and try to find anything that is not right. Does she lay eggs? If so, check inside the vent for a stuck egg. Check her skin for parasites such as lice or mites. What do her droppings look like--any diarrhea or blood in the stools? Check her crop in the early morning to make sure that it is emptying normally. Think about worming her with SafeGuard liquid or Valbazen if you haven't recently. Is she eating and drinking normally? Has she lost weight in her breastbone area, or is she puffy in her lower abdomen?

 

[chicken gal]

When I went out to feed my chickens with some leftover salad and she did eat some. But her eyes were still half closed. I am still pretty new at owning chickens so could you tell me what that stuff means and how to do it. Thanks for your help.

 

[linz44]

Feel her chest for a puffy sack. It could be squishy or hard if it is slow or sour crop. The crop is a food storage sack. It should be full at roost time and completely empty in the morning if it's working correctly. Best time to check this is in the morning before you feed. If it's not puffed out then it's probably not a crop problem but If Its full and squishy or hard then it's a crop issue. The symptoms are refusal to eat and drink or eating and drinking less and lethargy. Is your chicken pooping?

 

[linz44]

To check the crop hold your chicken and reach around to the chest and see if you feel a ballon like pouch in front. If you do feel something you can smell her beak and if you detect a foul odor it's sour crop. I just had my hen get sour crop and if it's indeed that you will feel it. And the stench is bad! Weight loss is also another indication. If you wanted to check if she's egg bound you can use a rubber glove with lube or vasaline on index finger and put your finger in the vent and if there is an egg it should be within 2 inches of the vent. Good luck I hope you figure it out!

 

[chicken gal]

I have some good news! She was the first one out when I opened the door and she started pecking around for scratch on the ground! But she is still not the same. Her eyes are still half closed and her comb looks a little darker. Its good news, but should I get my hopes up?

 

[chicken gal]

So I don't think its a crop problem.

 

[chicken gal]

But I just noticed she has a poopy bottom. Could something maybe be clogged?