Help with quarantine

[KootenaiRiverChick]

I had excellent results with VetRx when one of my hens developed a respiratory illness. I could hear her wheezing, struggling for breath, and sneezing across the yard one day and treated her immediately per the instructions. She was much better the next day, but I treated her for several days and within that time she was 100%. I don't know the specific illness she had, but VetRx worked like a charm.



I've also had a hen with sour crop. She had other issues going on as well, but one day I noticed her crop was swollen and very full in the morning. I had read that you can hold the hen upside down to try to empty the crop by very gently massaging it, but you have to be careful so as not to damage the crop or allow the hen to aspirate on what is flowing out. What comes out does stink, too. I did this for a few days and it seemed to work, but because she was already ill and on her way out it didn't save her. I believe the crop should feel full at night but empty in the morning, and you should be able to feel small pebbles in it when empty. Again, be very gentle when feeling it as it can be easily damaged, I believe. Others here probably have more experience with this so do correct me if I'm wrong.

It is overwhelming to deal with sick chickens and sometimes they just die. Sometimes you have to help them along, too, as they just can't be saved and it's the humane thing to do. Try the VetRx; you can order it on Amazon or from Tractor Supply, or your nearest feed store may stock it. Make sure you get the type for poultry.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

First thing's first. You need to figure out if there is a crop issue or not. The way to do this is to see if her crop is empty or not in the morning first thing before she eats or drinks anything. If you are unsure what the crop feels like, feel the crops of your other chickens during the day (one's that are eating) as it is much easier to identify where the crop is and what it feels like with food in it. The crop is located on the right hand side of the chickens breast, below the neck. Once you feel a crop with food in it, you will be able to identify if a crop is empty. If you do this and find her crop is completely empty (flat) first thing in the morning - you know she does not have a crop issue. If you find her crop has something in it first thing in the morning BEFORE she eats or drinks, then there is an issue and you can begin tackling it. You will get loads of help here in treating it so find out first what you are dealing with: crop issue or not. Hope this helps!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m going to be honest, I’ve read 1000 articles on sour crop and I’m just not sure. I guess maybe I’m not sure what a crop is supposed to feel like. When i found the hen that died she had some brown stuff coming out of her mouth and that’s what worried me. I’ve smelled all of their breath and it smells fine. I gave the two I’m worried about some water with ACV in it as well as some plain yogurt to combat sour crop if that’s a problem. This is all just so overwhelming

@Cragg Klefor gave you good information on how to check the crop.
I'm sure it's all overwhelming for you, so take a deep breath and tackle one thing at a time. Good suggestion, feel your other chickens when they go to roost, run your hand down the right side of the breast, you should feel the crop since they go to roost with full crops. In the morning, that same location should feel empty (before they eat/drink). The crop is a pouch/holding vessel for food. When there is a slowing down of digestion - impaction, infection, illness, reproductive problem, etc., the crop does not empty. If food stays in there too long, it can sour or ferment - basically this can be like a yeast or fungal infection. Any time I have ever encountered a crop problem, it was a symptom of something else going on (for me, reproductive problems).

I do understand your worry. A lot of times when a chicken dies, the contents of the crop may spill or come out of the beak. Sometimes the intestines may release some of their contents as well. This can be normal, but it's always good to consider the possibility that you have a crop problem with your other sick birds. Birds that are sick don't drink very well, being dehydrated makes it harder for the crop to empty and foods processed. If there is inflammation in the body, then that can also slow the digestive processes as well.
Check their crops first thing in the morning before they eat/drink. It's as simple as that. If the crops are not empty then begin treatment. We will be happy to offer suggestions.

Hang in there. You can get through this!

Reference: https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

... This is all just so overwhelming

It doesn't have to be.
Since you have something moving through your flock and now a dead bird, as I see it you have two choices.
Send the dead bird for necropsy or continue to guess, trying different suggestions, meds and wasting time.
You can find your lab on the following list.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf
Each lab varies. If your state has a vet school, I prefer those. They'll send you a FedEx label. Make a list of symptoms and flock history, put that in the box with the bird send it off and you're done.
No more being overwhelmed. Know once and for all how to proceed.

Make sure to note on the list any meds you gave, especially antibiotics because that can skew the results of lab tests.

Antibiotics have a place but using them without knowing what malady you are treating is not the place. Overuse is causing serious resistance in bacteria. The same families of antibiotics used in livestock are also used for human health. As bugs become superbugs, we're all in trouble.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/...-bacteria-travel-from-the-farm-to-your-table/