Hen bleeding from vent and coughing

[oellian]

I have an eleven month old Bielefelder hen who has been sitting more than normal for the past few days while the rest of the flock is active, but when I would go to check on her, she would stand up and walk away, seeming fine. Today I found her sitting in the coop when it was very nice out, and again, when I went over to her, she stood up and walked away, but this time I noticed a little blood dripping from her vent. Her eyes are bright and clear; her comb a nice red; her gait seems fine. She's one of eight birds, so I don't know if she's been eating and drinking normally. From the symptoms, I suspected that she may have had an egg break. When I picked her up to bring her into the house for examination, I noticed that she was gurgling a bit when she breathed, and even sort of coughed once or twice, emitting a little clear fluid in the process. While I was holding her, I felt her crop, which is full and squishy; not firm like they usually are. I brought her into the house to examine her more closely, and the first thing I noticed was lots of poop stuck around her vent. I put her in a warm epsom salt bath for fifteen minutes, then gently worked off all the poop, renewed the water, verified all clean, dried her off, and then examined her cloaca. She felt totally normal inside up to about two inches deep, which is as far as I went. Her vent was pale with no sign of prolapse. After her bath and examination, there was no evident sign of blood, so the bleeding isn't profuse by any means. I will keep her in the house, and have started her on tetracycline/hydrochloride in her only water source. She wasn't interested in drinking, so I fed her a few ccs with a syringe to make sure she got at least a little.

So I have two seemingly disconnected symptoms, both bad.

Any suggestions?

 

[azygous]

Actually, the two issues are likely related. Your hen has a crop disorder, probably a yeast infection (sour crop). It can be caused by a reproductive issue that causes a blockage. This can cause the crop to back up or slow way down.

Treat the crop disorder. Here's a short tutorial to help identify the crop issue and how to treat each one. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Next, give her a calcium tablet in case she has a reproductive obstruction. It can help trigger strong contractions that will help push out the obstruction. Use this if you can get it since it works fastest of all types of calcium.

Give one whole tablet directly into her beak. Do not crush the pill or dissolve it in water. It needs to be the whole pill. She will not have trouble swallowing it.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Where'd you find the Tetracycline?

 

[oellian]

Update: after sitting wrapped up in a towel for half an hour, she got up and was walking a bit, and then did a small, bloody poop, so I'm thinking coccidiosis for that problem.
The squishy crop and gurgling? No idea yet...

 

[oellian]

Where'd you find the Tetracycline?

I don't remember, quite honestly. It's been a while since I got it. I'll post the answer if I can find it. It's called Tetrasol, and is made by Avi Labs.

 

[oellian]

Well, that was quick. I went and got the calcium citrate, and gave her some. She seemed uncomfortable last night at sundown, and was dead this morning.
It's been a rough year around here for the flock. One down by fox in broad daylight when a fence blew down, three down by raccoon, including our two dearest, before I found where they were getting in, including one that was gravely injured that I had to put down at 4 in the morning; one from Marek's (still to be verified by the lab); and one from whatever that was that killed the bielefelder.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I don't remember, quite honestly. It's been a while since I got it. I'll post the answer if I can find it. It's called Tetrasol, and is made by Avi Labs.

Sorry to hear about how hard the year has been for you
Thank you for the information

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Well, that was quick. I went and got the calcium citrate, and gave her some. She seemed uncomfortable last night at sundown, and was dead this morning.
It's been a rough year around here for the flock. One down by fox in broad daylight when a fence blew down, three down by raccoon, including our two dearest, before I found where they were getting in, including one that was gravely injured that I had to put down at 4 in the morning; one from Marek's (still to be verified by the lab); and one from whatever that was that killed the bielefelder.

A rough year indeed! Sorry for your trials.