HELP!! impacted crop of non eating hen with known reproductive issues (Salpingitis and lash eggs)

[DLA]

@Wyorp Rock She is sluggish. Her crop was still squishy this morning (since Tuesday). I offered her feed mash, egg, tuna, meal worms this morning before her medications. She ate a few meal worms and some tuna, very little- maybe a teaspoon total- no interest in the egg. I gave her 200mg of clavamox and 200mg of fluconazole. I then let her outside with her sisters. She just stood there for a while so I set her by her water and she drank some then I gave her a couple drops of nutridrench on the side of her beak- she flicked most of it back at me as usual. She isn’t talkative like she usually is, since Tuesday in fact. She seems exhausted and almost has a mad look on her face, but I know she’s not mad, but likely tired. Normally she has a sweet innocent look on her face.
I am a mess, I’m exhausted, I can’t sleep thru the night. It’s too hot to let he be outside in her condition after 10:30/11am it’s already approaching 100 degrees so I bring her in to her pop-up run, and then at 7:30/8 I let her go to roost with her sisters in the cage I have set up for them in the laundry room at 78-80 degrees to give them a break from the 110 degrees.
I am accepting that I may be her time, but I don’t want to give up on her.
Should I (torpedo) force feed her, layer feed mash and grit to help with the antibiotic/ diarrhea? Or just let her eat what she will on her own and keep medicating?
Should I stop medicating? We are 3.5 days in to the 7 day treatment with clavamox and and 3.5 days in to 10 days of fluconazole. I have given her some Stoll softner a couple of times too as advised on the impacted crop article on this forum.

When I consider Euathanizing, I don’t think she’s ready to give up yet, and I don’t think I am either, I just need rest. I think, I hope, she’ll let me know when it’s time and if she needs help. In fact I tuned in with her yesterday and got a message to give the meds time to work. But I’m scared because It’s Friday and my vet isn’t open over the weekend so I’m really struggling with that cuz what if she starts suffering over the weekend?
If she’s going to pass, Should I just let her pass on her own here? How do I know what to do? I can’t do this alone and I really appreciate everyone’s help and advice.
The vet seems annoyed by my calling with questions, and didn’t return my call last night so I called this morning again. I’m just a mess, I really need help to make the best decisions for my favorite girl.
She’s standing and somewhat eating just a little bit that crop is a woman’s size handfull of squishy and I massage it but I can’t get it to empty. Why isn’t the vet doing anything to clear the impact ion and instead just giving medications?

Side note: times are really tough, my bf broke up with me on Sunday and is still here yelling one minute and telling me he loves me the next. This isn’t helping. He yells when the hens are inside roosting at night and I know that stress could be effecting them as well. I found a vet tech friend who is willing to foster my hens since my life is up in the air, but she lives 1100 miles away up north and I’m afraid to take my hens to her now in the state they are in, especially since she has a hobby farm and 50 hens of their own. So I’m waiting for my hens to recover to make the move. Is that smart? I don’t want anyone getting more sick or dying due to the stress of moving, and to a new (farm) environment with other birds and new bacteria. Obviously we will quarantine them for a while, but still, I should wait til my hen is feeling better right?

I also have a bantam 2.5 years old (my second favorite hen of course) who is laying either soft or fairy eggs. I’ve been giving her calcium citrate and clavamox for possible oviduct infection (clavamox at the vets advise) she did lay her first “normal egg” or the year after 1.5 days on clavamox but I found both a tiny hard fairy egg and a tiny soft shelled egg under her roost this morning. Yes two eggs from one hen overnight. Is it the heat?

So yes, my two favorite hens (out of 5) are both struggling and so am I. And I have two molting hens right now too. They’ve been test for worms twice and I don’t see lice or mights. I have misters out and a fan since it’s 110 degrees everyday.

A thought just came to mind revolving around the who food conspiracy thing, should I just throw a Hail Mary and give them goat feed and see what happens? I remember people saying they have their hens goat feed and everyone returned to normal and started laying again.

Any and all advice is welcome!!! Please be honest, but kind. Thank you!

Sounds like you've got a lot going on right now. That has to be very difficult. I can't offer any more advice than has already been given but I will certainly pray for you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No, I would not switch to goat feed.

Provide her with her normal feed - wet and/or dry. Let her eat as she wishes. If she's drinking on her own, that's very good. Make grit available free choice just like you normally would, don't mix it with feed.

Keep going with the meds. You want to finish the course of treatment.

With Salpingitis, infection or other reproductive problems, a hen can be off her feed, they don't feel very well and the crop may be slow due to inflammation. There's only so much you can do if there's swelling/inflammation in the body, so give it all time to see if it will work.
Hopefully the medication (antibiotics) will help with the inflammation and make her more comfortable for a while. Sounds like the vet was trying to address both issues, there's only so much you can do.

It's possible, the medication may not help or her condition is so advanced they won't make a difference, but if she's able to move about some on her own, eat/drink on her own and is interacting with her flock, then take a deep breath and let her chicken until she's unable to chicken any longer.

I'm very sorry that you are faced with so many things at once. Hang in there. Just continue to care for her like you have been doing. As for the other hen, finish the antibiotic and the calcium for her. IIRC, she also was passing some lash material correct?
With the heat and infection, it actually may be a bit promising that she's able to lay the fairy egg, then a soft shelled egg - time will tell on that too, hopefully her system is starting to get back on track.

As for moving them, that's up to you. Personally, I wouldn't move sick birds on a long hot trip, that would be exhausting for you and them.

I hope you are able to find a way to get some rest.

 

[Blessedwithhens]

No, I would not switch to goat feed.

Provide her with her normal feed - wet and/or dry. Let her eat as she wishes. If she's drinking on her own, that's very good. Make grit available free choice just like you normally would, don't mix it with feed.

Keep going with the meds. You want to finish the course of treatment.

With Salpingitis, infection or other reproductive problems, a hen can be off her feed, they don't feel very well and the crop may be slow due to inflammation. There's only so much you can do if there's swelling/inflammation in the body, so give it all time to see if it will work.
Hopefully the medication (antibiotics) will help with the inflammation and make her more comfortable for a while. Sounds like the vet was trying to address both issues, there's only so much you can do.

It's possible, the medication may not help or her condition is so advanced they won't make a difference, but if she's able to move about some on her own, eat/drink on her own and is interacting with her flock, then take a deep breath and let her chicken until she's unable to chicken any longer.

I'm very sorry that you are faced with so many things at once. Hang in there. Just continue to care for her like you have been doing. As for the other hen, finish the antibiotic and the calcium for her. IIRC, she also was passing some lash material correct?
With the heat and infection, it actually may be a bit promising that she's able to lay the fairy egg, then a soft shelled egg - time will tell on that too, hopefully her system is starting to get back on track.

As for moving them, that's up to you. Personally, I wouldn't move sick birds on a long hot trip, that would be exhausting for you and them.

I hope you are able to find a way to get some rest.

Wow! You are amazing! Thank you for such a thorough response to everything! You have given me more confidence in what I am doing. I sewed her a crop bra today too- hoping the extra lift will help her crop empty overnight. She was moving around and interested in water and possibly food today while outside with her sisters, however I did bring her in mid day when the mercury rose to over 100, I just don’t want her battling the heat as well. Tomorrow will only be 98, so hopefully that will treat them all better and then cooler temps from there, especially if we head north!

My bantam hen with the fairy and/or soft eggs actually laid another soft egg today- yes, 3 eggs in 24 hours! I’m not sure what is happening! Knock on wood, I don’t know if she has had any lash material, but lots of fairy eggs and some soft eggs, should I continue with calcium citrate every day for her and how long?

Thank you all for your support, it means so much to know I have a tribe to support me and help me help my hens! I seriously don’t know what id do without you all!!! Thank you!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

For the bantam, I would give her no more than 2weeks of Calcium Citrate.
Hopefully she's on the mend.

How is your other hen?

 

[Blessedwithhens]

Wow! You are amazing! Thank you for such a thorough response to everything! You have given me more confidence in what I am doing. I sewed her a crop bra today too- hoping the extra lift will help her crop empty overnight. She was moving around and interested in water and possibly food today while outside with her sisters, however I did bring her in mid day when the mercury rose to over 100, I just don’t want her battling the heat as well. Tomorrow will only be 98, so hopefully that will treat them all better and then cooler temps from there, especially if we head north!

My bantam hen with the fairy and/or soft eggs actually laid another soft egg today- yes, 3 eggs in 24 hours! I’m not sure what is happening! Knock on wood, I don’t know if she has had any lash material, but lots of fairy eggs and some soft eggs, should I continue with calcium citrate every day for her and how long?

Thank you all for your support, it means so much to know I have a tribe to support me and help me help my hens! I seriously don’t know what id do without you all!!! Thank you!!

@Wyorp Rock regarding my 2.5 year old bantam and the antibiotics. We just finished day 7 on clavamox. She laid a perfect egg when we were 1.5 days in, but then she laid 3 eggs in 24 hours on day 6 (I found both a soft shelled egg and fairy egg under her roost yesterday morning, and then she dropped another one in the yard around 5pm that same day!) it looked soft but the hens got to it before I did so I can’t confirm. so with that said, should I continue more days of the clavamox for her. I originally was going to do 7 because that usually what this vet prescribes. What’s your advice? I do have the aqua mox, it finally arrived today a week after I ordered it, but I gave her clavamox this evenings this isn’t a confirmed infection it was just what the vet said she’s likely do over the phone when I told her what was going on with the fairy eggs and soft eggs, no exam was done tho, I just happened to have clavamox on hand. Also I’m still giving her calcium citrate nightly- about 100 mg- just a small portion of the tab (she’s 1.5 lbs).

 

[Blessedwithhens]

Sounds like you've got a lot going on right now. That has to be very difficult. I can't offer any more advice than has already been given but I will certainly pray for you.

Thank you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No, you've finished the Clavamox, so I wouldn't give any more. Dosing on the Calcium sounds good. If you've given her Calcium for 7 days, I'd continue that for another 3 days, then stop that too.
See that she's eating and drinking well.

 

[Blessedwithhens]

No, you've finished the Clavamox, so I wouldn't give any more. Dosing on the Calcium sounds good. If you've given her Calcium for 7 days, I'd continue that for another 3 days, then stop that too.
See that she's eating and drinking well.

Ok. For my bantam, she laid a “normal” egg today- YAY!!! I’ve been giving her calcium on and off as needed for prob 20 days, basically if she laid a soft egg I’d give her calcium. BUT I was doing calcium CARBONATE sprinkled in Greek yogurt until I bought calcium CITRATE on 9/5. Since 9/5 Ive been giving her about 100mg CITRATE nearly daily ( I may have missed a day or two between 9/5-9/10 tho), with that said, how many more days (every day) should I go with the calcium CITRATE?


And my 5.5 year old hen is very very lethargic. She was outside just standing with her sisters yesterday til 6pm, where I found her standing by the water dish and getting soaked by the water misters. I brought her in to try to eat before meds, she barely pecked at dried meal worms, scrambled egg, tuna, maybe 5 pecks and she missed the food with her beak few times too I’ve noticed that for probably 10 days now where she’s missed her food “target” with her beak.
I gave her a few “ torpedos” (hen feed mashed with water and rolled into balls the size of a pea to blueberry sized ball) of hen food, maybe 1/2 a teaspoon and gave her 200mg Clavamox.
I put her up to roost with her sister and attempted to put a “crop bra” on her that I sewed her yesterday to help lift her crop overnight, but she fell of the roost I tried to put her back up and she fell off again I panicked and apologized profusely telling her I am trying I am trying to do my best. She just wanted to lay down, so I put her in the pop up run in the living room and covered her up to her shoulders with a towel since her feathers were still wet from the water misters. I told her I love her and if it is her time to pass that although we love having her here with us, I have to be accepting that I am accepting it may be her time and she could cross over and leave her earthly body if it was that time. About an hour later she moved from under the towel and laid on her front/side for the remainder of the night. This morning she was laying in the same spot with diarrhea near her vent, liquid white and grayish greenish, and there was some under the towel too. I tried to get her to eat on her own, tuna, eggs, dried meal worms, mushy hen food but she wasn’t interested.
(I should mention that I spoke with the vet on Friday at 6pm and asked her about the diarrhea and the vet said to switch her off Clavamox to the aqua mox if I start to see feces in the diarrhea, not just urates, I also asked if I should give meloxicam since I had some on hand in case of inflammation and/or pain and the vet said it wouldn’t hurt to try it) so this morning 9/10 I gave her 200mg of fluconazole, 1ml of meloxicam (just started this since she may be in pain and/or inflammation), then mixed 250mg of aqua mox in hen food mash and torpedo feed her about 5 pea-blueberry sized aquamox/food torpedoes (maybe 2 tablespoons), and about .2 ml of nutridrench), I also syringed about 5ml of water into her beak over a period of 15 mins or so.
The vet recommended if she stops eating all together to force feed her (torpedo feed) about 1/8 cup 2-3x/ day even if her crop isn’t emptying. What do you all think of force feeding a hen whos crop isn’t emptying?
I cleaned up her pop up run and set her back in there, she stood for a little bit but then laid on her front and a little to her left side and face to the ground and has been like that for a couple of hours I can see her breathing, and I see there is more diarrhea. I’m not sure I should take pics or video at this point- I feel bad.

Also the vet wants to do a barium series tomorrow if her crop hasn’t emptied, what is this for? Should I do it considering everything (and her previous reproductive concerns too)???

Please send me your thoughts, advice, feedback.

@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ok. For my bantam, she laid a “normal” egg today- YAY!!! I’ve been giving her calcium on and off as needed for prob 20 days, basically if she laid a soft egg I’d give her calcium. BUT I was doing calcium CARBONATE sprinkled in Greek yogurt until I bought calcium CITRATE on 9/5. Since 9/5 Ive been giving her about 100mg CITRATE nearly daily ( I may have missed a day or two between 9/5-9/10 tho), with that said, how many more days (every day) should I go with the calcium CITRATE?

It's good that she laid a normal egg today. I'd give her the Calcium Citrate for 3 more days then stop.

I'm not a vet that's for sure, but my understanding is a barium series is a way to look a the digestive system along with imaging. I would assume the vet is looking for a blockage to see if that's why the crop is slow (?)

Ime, crop problems are generally a symptom of an underlying condition. It's not uncommon for a hen to be suffering from a reproductive disorder and/or infection and her crop is slow.

It's up to you whether or not you want to have more testing or imaging. This may give you more information and clarity so you understand what's happening or it may not. If you go through with it, then have the vet discuss the testing/imaging with you so you get a better grasp of your hen's condition and the outcome.

 

[Blessedwithhens]

Update: I am writing with a heavy heart today. My sweet hen passed on Sunday at home. She is definitely my favorite and always will be She was such a fighter, feeling good on and off for months, yet continuing to bless us with her sweet, smart, loving, and kind beautiful spirit. She was so patient with me trying to do my best to help her, with doctors visits and medications, torpedo feeding, syringing liquids, trying a crop bra… one time a while back, she even tried a chicken diaper so she could hang out in the house with me I am so blessed to have had her beautiful earthly presence in my life for 5.5 years, she taught me so much; unconditional love, and to be sweet, kind, caring, silly and fun. She stole my heart with her sweet coo when I’d “tuck them in at night”. I’d say Goodnight and she’d always respond “boooooop” in the sweetest voice every night She is greatly missed. Fly free sweet girl! May you rest in peace and always be with us in spirit!!