Hen standing like penguin and very swollen vent area...is she constipated??? Please advise!

[Eggcessive]

Casportpony and others are much better with info about crop issues, but water for flushing the crop, and probiotics and antifungal drugs can be used to treat them. Colace or stool softener capsules can be used to treat impacted crop. Here are some good threads and articles to help you decide what is best to treat you hen with the crop problem:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html
http://www.tillysnest.com/2012/01/crop-issues.html
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/digestive-problems/index.aspx
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1053469/impacted-crop-help
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It looks like you have received some great resources and info from more experienced BYC'ers.
I do hope your girls do recover soon. Sounds like you are doing everything possible to help your girls and I commend you. Please do post photos and keep us updated about their progress, whether good or bad and what treatments/courses of action you take.

 

[WTFlockFarm]

Update....
Sour crop hen is back to normal and has returned to her rooster. She does try to get in the house and now begs for food.

Penguin hen has improved but not sure what to do from here.... The swelling of her abdomen and vent area has gone down significantly. She eats and drinks well, she is alert and noisy at times. I have been giving her Epson salt baths every other day.

She still has a penguin stance and is swollen. Her poop is greenish, almost liquid but not quite. Also there is sometimes a yellow gelled like poop. I have to keep bathing just to keep her clean. I didn't notice her pooping like this before. I am feeding her a diet that includes cucumber and cooked eggs so maybe she just isn't processing it.

I have been going on the assumption that she has an infection but she keeps showing improvement so I have been putting off culling her. I wonder how log this can go on for??

Do I continue as long as the swelling keeps going down and her general condition gets better or am I just prolonging the inevitable which seems to be the consensus based on other treads and info I can find???

 

[Eggcessive]

It's good to hear that the one with sour crop has improved. With your hen that may have ascites and internal laying, I would do what I could to make her comfortable. She will probably let you know when she is feeling bad enough to put her down, but chickens can be stoic animals.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Also glad to hear your girl with sour crop is better. (haha! She now knows the house is where you keep the good stuff

)

I agree with @Eggcessive about your penguin girl.

Thanks for the update!

 

[etammy]

In my limited experience, it takes 3-4 weeks for a hen to die. Once she stops eating for a week or more then it is time. I had a hen with ascites get better and lived another 6 months, she was a sickly hen. I had to "nurse" her back to good health 4 different times in her life. She lived to be 4 years old. Watery poops with a small amount bright green turds are not a good sign . Best of luck, I hope she does well.

 

[WTFlockFarm]

 

[WTFlockFarm]

Hi Kathy, Please see the pictures I have posted. Thanks

 

[WTFlockFarm]

Ok...new development! Penguin hen's poops returned to what looks like normal chicken poops and she was actually resting lying down for the first time. I was thinking this was a good sign. must be less sore and looks less swollen than after her bath this afternoon. I went to get firewood and came back to her eating a yoke! She pooped out a yoke, no shell. Is this a good thing???? Any ideas....

Wyorp Rock
etammy
Eggcessive
casportpony

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I honestly do not know.
You are doing good, she looks like she is loved and cared for. Hopefully someone with more experience than I, can give you a better answer.