Hen has stopped laying, now gagging?

[jesirose]

We have a cream legbar, almost a year old, that has not laid in about a month. She appeared to be molting, plus it's been very hot here in Texas, so I was not too concerned. But last night she was doing this thing where every few seconds she stretched out her neck and stuck out her tongue, as if she's gagging. She is not making any noise while doing it, but did make some quiet squawks when my husband picked her up. This morning she is still doing it, and has not gotten off the roost. My husband took her to their water and she just sat there making the gagging motion.

I tried to feel for an impacted crop and could not feel anything. She has a malformed upper beak that has been twisted to the side since she was 4 weeks old, but she has always been able to eat enough food, and was a pretty good layer for a few months before she stopped and we provide her extra soft foods like banana, applesauce and yogurt to make up for it, but she does seem to do fine with getting grass and feed.

My google search last night turned up impacted crop, sinus infection, or gag worm. How should I proceed?

My husband is concerned that she is suffering, and we won't be able to do anything to help her, and should put her down. I feel like she's a pretty strong chicken and if it's something she can get over, it would be a shame to put her down now. We almost did it when she was a chick because of the beak, but she kept thriving then and I feel like she's a fighter. Our flock got a round of Corrid about 6 weeks ago as a preventative, and we have electrolyte powder I can give her.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she could be suffering from the heat. I would try to feed her some electrolytes (and vitamin/probiotics would be even better.) If her crop is empty, she still may have some thing stuck farther down. Worms could also be a problem, and I would worm her with Valbazen or SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer 1/2 ml by mouth and repeat in 10 days. Gapeworm is rare, and they will gasp and gape constantly, not being able to eat or drink. SafeGuard dosage doubled for 3-4 days in a row will treat it. During times of intense heat I will place many water stations (including shallow pans) around the coop, run, and ranging area in the shade for them to drink and cool their legs. Putting a vitamin/electrolyte/probiotic in the water every other day will also help.

 

[seminolewind]

During the real hot days I add ice to all the waterers. I have a freezer full of soda bottles that are frozen water. Or I empty the ice machine. I don't know if she's eating or not? Do you have access to some sort of feeding tube , even aquarium tubing so you can check patency of her throat? She could have gotten something stuck.

 

[jesirose]

My husband gave her the probiotics, unfortunately she passed on a few hours later. The other birds all seem fine, and haven't been having issues with laying or with the heat so far.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Sometimes a necropsy done at home can point out blockages in the crop, proventriculus, or gizzard.