Hen with tumor behind eye and swollen crop, possible lymphoid leukosis?

[azygous]

Go Ruby girl! What a gal!

Yes, hold off on starting the yeast treatment until you've accomplished clearing the crop obstruction. That's the way I do it when a hen has both crop issues. Of the two, impacted crop is more serious, and needs to be dealt with first.

Any stool softener without a stimulant will work fine. That poop is what I would call a "transition" poop. It indicates the crop is beginning to empty. You can give her some food such as boiled egg or yogurt without sugar. If she's chasing down live food, she's ready to start eating again.

 

[Bridgette89]

So I have given her the stool softener. And massaged again 45mins later. Still the hard lump in top right of crop.

I gave her a boiled egg, She ate some but not much. Saw her eat a big worm though and do another transition poo.

Left her for an hour and then gave her more coconut oil and massaged her. Every time I go to massage her the crop is very larger and taut. After a bit of massaging a lot of gas comes out.

Still has the lump..

Should I do the stool softener again?

 

[azygous]

What was Ruby's crop like this morning? Did it empty? Is the lump any smaller or softer? If it's still there, is it in the same place? When you massage it, does it move around at all?

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Perfect example of a thread where we can get the very best instructions from people who have the experience, knowledge and wisdom, and are openly willing to share. It's just heart warming.

Ruby is a dote. She does have that 'will you help me out here please' look to her face. I'm really hoping her crop starts functioning properly and that lump is just a knot of difficult to digest material.

Transition poop .... new addition to my chicken dictionary Love it!

 

[rebrascora]

Personally I would prevent her from accessing anything large and difficult to break down until you have her crop fully emptied and working properly.... I isolate birds with crop issues and only give access to liquid feeds that are homogenous and can pass through a sieve.... ie no lumpy bits and no bedding that can be eaten. Unfortunately that lizard and worm are only going to add to the crop problem. I know it does your heart good to see them chasing after and enjoying a natural treat like that but it is just likely to clog her up further. I also remove access to any type if vegetation or fibrous bedding that can be ingested as they will sometimes eat those things because they essentially starving due to the impaction and so their urge is to eat more, even though their crop is full.
The gas coming up when you massage sounds to me like sour crop and I would try the clotrimazole and continue massaging as often as you can.

Have you checked her for abdominal swelling and do you know when she last laid an egg? Crop issues in older birds can be due to reproductive disorders causing a blockage lower down their digestive tract and their crop is just the place where it becomes noticeable.

You say that she was an adult bird when you got her but you don't know her age. It would be helpful to know how long you have had her?
Also, do you free range? Sometimes birds that have never had access to grass and other vegetation go a bit wild when they suddenly do have access to it and binge. It can take several months for the results of that binging to become obvious with a crop impaction.

What does her breast bone feel like? Is it sharp under the skin indicating that she has lost a lot of breast muscle? This will usually indicate how long the problem may have been going on for.

 

[Bridgette89]

So this morning her crop was still enlarged. The lump is still there at the top of the right hand side of the crop and it isn't moving. It may have changed a bit but I might be imagining that.

I got Ruby 10 months ago and all the chooks free range everyday.

I can't feel any abdominal swelling and her breast bone is very prominent.

I am going to start on the clotrimazole today. My vet has also offered to see her for free this afternoon. Fingerscrossed.

 

[rebrascora]

Wow! What a great vet! You don't hear about them making offers like that every day. Hope they can get to the bottom of it this time. Would you be kind enough to post an update with the result of this second veterinary visit.
The crop issue is certainly more of a concern, especially if she has lost a lot of body stores (breast muscle) because it is possible for them to starve to death, with a full crop if food cannot progress through their digestive tract.
It is sounding more like it may be tumours if the lump in her crop is not moving and feels attached. There may be more lower down her digestive system too which are blocking the passage of food..... I'm assuming this one, near the top, front of her crop is not causing this blockage but if she has a possible tumour on her face too, then that might tie in with LL. I'm so sorry this is not sounding very promising.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Good luck with the vets visit

 

[Bridgette89]

So the vet still isn't sure what the lump is at the top of her crop. In 24hours it has changed from skin coloured to dark red, possible broken capillaries she said.

She treats with both eastern and western veterinary medicine so Ruby got some acupuncture! I am open to anything and I was extremely surprised to see that after the acupuncture Ruby did a massive poo!!! Previous in the day there had only been a few very small dark green poos.

We will see how she goes over the coming days.

 

[rebrascora]

Having a good large poop must have made her feel a bit better. Interesting that the acupuncture may have triggered it.
Sadly it does look to be a tumour with that obvious vascular supply and you are probably right that the massage has perhaps broken a few capillaries. All you can do is make her as comfortable and happy as possible for whatever time she has left and be prepared to end it when quality of life is not sustainable.