Hen with difficulty swallowing - losing weight

[Sno1234]

I have a frizzle bantam (about 1 year old), and for the past 2-3 weeks she seems unable to swallow properly. She is hungry and eats but after a few pellets/seeds she stops, shakes her head and coughs up the food. She is also lethargic, smells bad, and recently hasn't been drinking much water (when she does try, she only dips her beak in).

I checked her recently and felt a hard lump in her throat which seems to move when she tries swallowing (so I'm guessing it's in her oesophagus?). Tried massaging the lump but it won't budge/break-up.

None of our other chickens are showing the same symptoms.

If there is something in her throat, how should I go about removing it so that she can drink/eat properly again? I'm worried she will continue to lose weight (it is hard to tell how skinny she is because of her feathers, but she is very light). I would like to check down her throat but she is reluctant to keep her mouth open and I don't want to force her...

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you locate her crop in her upper right chest? It sounds like she could have an impacted or sour crop. Feel other hen’s crops to compare hers. If it is not her crop, look into her throat with a flashlight for a foreign body or blockage.

Google “Slow, impacted, and sour crop prevention and treatment,” a good article written by TwoCrows here on BYC.

 

[Eggcessive]

Crop problems can be hard to treat, especially when they have been ongoing for a time. If a vet is possible, I would get her there soon, since they can do crop surgery or empty her drop and give her antifungals or antibiotics.

The other thing that I wondered about would be a possible tumor or an infection called canker.

 

[Sno1234]

Crop problems can be hard to treat, especially when they have been ongoing for a time. If a vet is possible, I would get her there soon, since they can do crop surgery or empty her drop and give her antifungals or antibiotics.

The other thing that I wondered about would be a possible tumor or an infection called canker.

Thank you for the help!

I'm pretty sure the lump is not her crop, as i can feel her crop lower down. The only difference between her crop and the other chicken's, is that her's is mostly empty.

I will try checking her throat for blockages/canker, and will plan to take her to a vet since the problem has been going on for a while.

Thanks again!

 

[Eggcessive]

Another possibility is that she has swallowed something that is blocking her throat or esophagus. Let us know what happens, and I would try the vet.

 

[Sno1234]

So we took her to the vet last week. They think the lump in her oesophagus is an abscess (also said there were lesions in her throat) and so they gave her some antibiotics that should last a week.

She was really tired for a few days afterwards, but has gained some energy since I've been feeding her 'pellet-porridge'. Also been giving her anti-inflammation medicine (as recommended by the vet) every day. However, she is still coughing up food every now and then.

I'm really not sure if she is getting better (though it has only been a few days). Will have to see what the vet thinks when we visit again this week. I wonder if it is just an infection or maybe something more...

 

[Millieshens]

Please could you let me know the outcome of your hen?