Lethargic Hen - Running Out of Ideas

[NatalieP]

Ok, a few more things to add into the mix. Her poops smell absolutely terrible. Not sure if its because there is no flow in the house or what but very stinky. But good news is that the crop seems even smaller after a break in eating.

Also, it's pretty quiet at our house and I noticed this weird hum/rattle sound. Not sure how long this has been going but is it normal breathing?

 

[azygous]

It appears to be cecal poop and that's pretty evil smelling as a hard rule. Fresh poop is also high in sulphur and that really can taint the air. To me, that latest poop is normal for a recovering chicken.

I have hearing loss and couldn't make out any of the sounds you are concerned about. But keep close watch on this. If it's not a transitory thing, it could mean the crop is filling with liquid that could point to the beginning of yeast. If this is happening, your patient may appear to start feeling less well as the day progresses.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I do hear a bit of a gurgle mostly once she's swallowed the water which could possibly be related to her crop issue. Hopefully that will resolve once the crop is emptying.

 

[NatalieP]

Hey. Needing some insight again.

Her crop impaction improved each day and this morning there was only a pinch of stuff left in her crop. She only took a little bit of coconut oil so it seems to be resolving a bit on it's own. She isnt a fluffed up as much either. She ate a bit yesterday and is consistently drinking.

Unfortunately, she's still spending most of the day sitting on the ground and sleeping and has zero appetite. Yesterday I was happy to see her start digging in the pine shavings, today she isnt moving as much or eating. This morning and again just now, she drank a bit of water and then when she was reaching down towards the pine shavings, a bit of the water came back up twice in a row both times. Her crop wasnt really full of water either. What's going on?

Additionally, she's back to shooting poops out her end. Sorry these pictures aren't the most clear but it's a very broken up poop and still a bit green. Does this seem normal? Shes still only on her feed. Thinking of getting a new brand today to see if that will interest her.

 

[NatalieP]

Better picture below. Still hearing that weird breathing today.

 

[azygous]

Have you made grit available to her? Her gizzard may be running low on grit and her appetite may be lagging until she can ingest enough grit to digest food.

Regurgitating fluid is often a sign of an obstruction in the digestive tract, so she may not quite be clear yet. Grit might help.

But she could have an underlying health issue that is causing all of this. All you can do is try to treat the symptoms and hope there isn't something else more serious happening.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

I have no knowledge to give, but I have lots of love for both of you. That little ICU unit is like a luxury hotel! gosh she is soooo loved and well cared for. You are doing everything right. (regardless of the outcome) Take time to just enjoy her and this beautiful shared time together. *hugs*

 

[NatalieP]

I have no knowledge to give, but I have lots of love for both of you. That little ICU unit is like a luxury hotel! gosh she is soooo loved and well cared for. You are doing everything right. (regardless of the outcome) Take time to just enjoy her and this beautiful shared time together. *hugs*

Thank you so much ❤

 

[NatalieP]

In case anyone was interested in a chicken x-ray. I thought this was amazing to see. Doc said everything looked normal in these (Friday). Looking at these now, I swear I see an egg above her ventriculus in the first photo but then looks like nothing in the second.

And an update on her status in case anyone was curious.

The good stuff: More energetic, more sassy, less puffed up, looking for food in her cage, scarfed down scrambled eggs, drinking well, crop empty in the morning (at least 99% sure I'm just feeling the empty crop but checking with the other ladies tomorrow for comparison)

The bad stuff: Still hearing a weird sound as she breathes and more pronounced as she eats and drinks, she isn't eating on her own (I hand feed but it's not enough), went from 3.07 lbs to 3.03 lbs at today's weigh in, watery poops shooting out her end still, another weird creamy white poop, was regurgitating a lot of water (noticed yesterday, not sure about today)

Took her outside for a minute while it was snowing. Curious little creatures

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

if snow is what she needs I can send you some I have a foot already, and I am not afraid of running out. She looks beautiful (both transparent and in color). The egg shape is just pattern recognition. Human brains see things like faces in landscapes, so seeing egg shapes in the shadows of a chicken x-ray is easy, no worries. Let the vet tell you if it is really there. Watery-poops is likely just her drinking because she has unfettered access. No one to fight her for the water dish! I see it a lot when I give wet mash instead of the dry foods. Water in-water out. White in poo is just pee, and mucus comes out of all our intestines. She may just be a little fragile in eating always, she was a fragile baby, she just isn't a big eater. Is the vet ok with her weight ? It looks like good news

Except, I think you now have a house-chicken (like a house-cat), she isn't going to want to fight the others for the dish anymore. Do you want to keep her inside ? My husband would not let me, I would keep ALL of them inside if I could. He says I would sleep in the henhouse if he let me. (probably true, I get up at night to check on them sometimes, if I could put a bed out there it would be simpler)

(assuming she has to go back to the henhouse) I think I would just give her a little sleeping cage in the hen house with her own bowls to eat & drink so she doesn't have to fight for it, she can snack in the morning and in the evening. I have some chickens that don't get access to the bowls when I set them down, so I make sure there is food at night, they get up when the others are sleeping and eat a little. I have one so far on the hierarchy that she naps with the eggs during the day and eats at night. She stays a little later inside the coop on cold days. Not her fault her sisters are bullies! (I commiserate, because my sisters are bullies too, so maybe I am extra sensitive to it.)

I think Heni is doing great I hope you are too.