Lethargic, malnourished, hunched in corner.

[looking4rocks]

Meaning a huge poop?
Was wondering if she had pooped at all thru this ordeal.

Yes, she has been pooping quite regularly throughout, which is reassuring.

I'll continue the tube feed of her yeast med, then plan for a tube feed of the molasses flush for early on 4th of July. Then hopefully, fireworks, haha.

 

[azygous]

Meaning a huge poop?
Was wondering if she had pooped at all thru this ordeal.

Hah! If only it could be so tidy as to have just one big turd be the result of the flush! No such luck. Molasses causes diarrhea, and that is the whole point of this final drastic measure to blast through any blockage in the digestive track.

I wish I could find that original thread where I first recommended the molasses flush for a stubborn crop issue. The OP was really a terrific good sport through it all, and was quick to grasp the concepts of treatment. The hen was simply not responding to any of the standard impacted crop treatments, and the molasses flush was a Hail-Mary-hope-this-works-now -stand-back! Fire in the hole! And it was every bit the mess I warned her it would be, but she was beyond thrilled because it worked!

 

[looking4rocks]

I'm curious how the flush went for the other hen! I hope it worked! I can't wait to hopefully get things moving tomorrow.

 

[azygous]

We're waiting to see how her crop is this morning. The flush didn't produce much, but perhaps it was enough to get things moving in the crop and gizzard.

I'm anxious for you to try the flush. This particular crop treatment isn't exactly standard. We've only had it work for one hen so far. That doesn't exactly qualify it as a controlled scientific experiment. But we shall certainly be hoping to see it work for that hen and yours, as well.

 

[azygous]

I have a report on my other patient with the slow crop. Her molasses flush did produce some reasonably good poop, although not the diarrhea we were expecting. No visible matted material. But her crop was still smaller this morning. The amount in the crop was barely detectable and massaged away easily. Her behavior is normal and appetite is returning, although she's very underweight.

So, I guess we need to disclaim that "results may vary". I recommend you try the flush and have conservative expectations for the outcome. Let's try it ans see what happens!

 

[azygous]

Here is the thread where the molasses flush was tried for the very first time with dramatic results. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hard-crop-not-clearing.1313179/

 

[looking4rocks]

I did the flush. Unfortunately we were busy this morning and I didn't seclude her so I don't know if she's had a giant poop. I just went out and checked her crop though and it's squishy and hardly any bits in it! When we did the flush around 3 hours ago it was rock hard and between golf ball and baseball sized. So it's not completely empty but she has been eating and drinking too.

I'll update tomorrow, but should I still give her the yeast med?

 

[looking4rocks]

I didn't catch her in time this morning before they got to food, but she is definitely acting more normal. I will close everything up tonight and check in the morning tomorrow. If it's still full after overnight when I check tomorrow should I try the flush again?

 

[aart]

I didn't catch her in time this morning before they got to food,

Might want to crate her....so much easier to asses the ins and outs that way.

I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[looking4rocks]

I was at work yesterday so I didn't have a chance to pull out our dog crate. It's a big airplane crate, but we got rid of the big wire crate, which would be easier to clean. Maybe I'll ask around and see if someone has one I can borrow.

Woke up, before food and water, Joan had a golf ball sized crop. So still not emptying overnight... I kinda want to do the flush again. It is rather hard in the morning, but I can squish it around. Another thing mentioned in the longer article is the copper sulfate in the water. I'd have to order it, but would that be worth a try to see if it rids an ongoing infection in her crop?