Molting hen with crop issues

[Winchikn]

Oh god @Winchikn that sounds terrible, I’m so sorry to hear this news.

I don’t know much about Mareks unfortunately and I don’t think I’m the right person to answer your questions… I have high morbidity in my own flock due to lead toxicity from contaminated soil, so I can at least empathise with how hard it is when you are confronted with something chronic and widespread.

I can also appreciate that this might be the end of chicken keeping for you. In some way, they are the most tragic pets. They are so full of character but there is just so much that can go wrong.

I know that vaccinations can help but are not 100% proof. Sounds like you do an excellent job with your chickens and this is a “do your best in a bad situation” kind of thing.

Sending love and hugs and I hope you’re able to give your birds the supportive care they need or make that hard decision if necessary xxx

Bless you. I needed a virtual hug from someone who understands. They really are tragic pets and I am so sorry for your ongoing issues.

We will walk the path that needs walking. Hard to let go of my dreams of letting the whole flock age out with me on the farm. Sometimes things just don't go the way we hope...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry that you may be dealing with Marek's.
If possible, it's a good idea to get confirmation testing just to be sure Marek's is the reason for the symptoms you have notice.

Though heartbreaking, Marek's is not always a death sentence and most people manage symptoms as they arise. If they have a really sick bird, then they may cull that particular one.
Marek's lives in the environment for a long time and is spread through dust, dander, feathers, etc. and the vaccine does not prevent infection from the virus, just helps reduce the formation of tumors.


Here's a couple of good articles if you haven't seen them yet.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[Winchikn]

I'm sorry that you may be dealing with Marek's.
If possible, it's a good idea to get confirmation testing just to be sure Marek's is the reason for the symptoms you have notice.

Though heartbreaking, Marek's is not always a death sentence and most people manage symptoms as they arise. If they have a really sick bird, then they may cull that particular one.
Marek's lives in the environment for a long time and is spread through dust, dander, feathers, etc. and the vaccine does not prevent infection from the virus, just helps reduce the formation of tumors.


Here's a couple of good articles if you haven't seen them yet.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Thank you so much. I started a new Mareks post and linked this one there, but forgot to link that one here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/suspected-mareks.1604321/#post-27310976

My apologies for the duplication. I'm not very skilled with these forums.

I had found the 'great big' article on my own and Coach723 sent me the link to the 'living with mareks' one. Both are extremely helpful so thank you for linking them here.

The little hen who prompted this thread was not showing any neurological (or other) symptoms today, which was a relief. I know I need to test at some point but I have a small (and beloved) flock and don't think I'm at the cull point yet for any of them, given they all have quite a bit of zest for life.

I hope that most of them might see another spring but that's a long ways off. Today, I was simply grateful for the bit of sun that made it through the clouds and seemed to lift the whole flock's spirits, and the rays of sunshine and hope that these Mareks posts provided for my heavy heart.

 

[Winchikn]

An update 2 months later…

This little hen stopped showing neurological symptoms and - I hate to count my chickens, as it were - but she seems to have recovered and came back into lay just before Christmas!

One other hen who was hit quite hard with respiratory symptoms during molt this fall has also come back into lay, at the ripening age of 4.5.

I’m prepared for more symptoms to reappear and for molt to be a rollercoaster again next fall, but am counting my blessings for the time being.

 

[Winchikn]

Another month later, this hen is still acting like a pretty healthy little chicken and laying on and off (and most of the rest of my little flock has come back into lay - amazing given they are aging and clearly battled some kind of viruses last year!).

Her eggs always have an elliptical blemish on them and I'm only getting one every 3-4 days, but I'm so glad I didn't cull her!

 

[Frank_C]

Another month later, this hen is still acting like a pretty healthy little chicken and laying on and off (and most of the rest of my little flock has come back into lay - amazing given they are aging and clearly battled some kind of viruses last year!).

Her eggs always have an elliptical blemish on them and I'm only getting one every 3-4 days, but I'm so glad I didn't cull her!

So good to hear. Good work

 

[TinaRew]

Another month later, this hen is still acting like a pretty healthy little chicken and laying on and off (and most of the rest of my little flock has come back into lay - amazing given they are aging and clearly battled some kind of viruses last year!).

Her eggs always have an elliptical blemish on them and I'm only getting one every 3-4 days, but I'm so glad I didn't cull her!

Thank you for your updates! Also, the neurological issues can pop up when they’re deficient in certain vitamins, and if she wasn’t eating her normal feed at the time, that could have been why. When we see that happen we usually give vitamin e and selenium (the horse gel for it); a pea sized amount.

The crop issues during molts are so discouraging! Last year we almost lost our favorite girl because it got so bad and we were syringe feeding for 2.5 months around the clock and she was below 3lbs. She ended up getting surgery and even almost a week after was still not better. But we were praying for her and believe God healed her overnight (crazy story but awesome!). So to my dismay… she’s starting that up again during this molt. I seriously want to cry. I cannot do what we did last year. And the stress alone, on me, is so much!

 

[guest226]

Thank you for your updates! Also, the neurological issues can pop up when they’re deficient in certain vitamins, and if she wasn’t eating her normal feed at the time, that could have been why. When we see that happen we usually give vitamin e and selenium (the horse gel for it); a pea sized amount.

The crop issues during molts are so discouraging! Last year we almost lost our favorite girl because it got so bad and we were syringe feeding for 2.5 months around the clock and she was below 3lbs. She ended up getting surgery and even almost a week after was still not better. But we were praying for her and believe God healed her overnight (crazy story but awesome!). So to my dismay… she’s starting that up again during this molt. I seriously want to cry. I cannot do what we did last year. And the stress alone, on me, is so much!

My hen is molting and has had crop stasis for 3 weeks! are you planning to treat without surgery this time, and hows it going with this hen?

 

[TinaRew]

My hen is molting and has had crop stasis for 3 weeks! are you planning to treat without surgery this time, and hows it going with this hen?

As of right now we’re doing minimal interventions compared to before. I happen to have metoclopramide (Reglan) that I’ve been giving her 2x a day that is sometimes used to help a slow crop, a stool softener 2x a day just for a few days since she’s not empty in the morning and it’s hard right now, and massaging a few times a day… but so far no change. Sadly I know that if the crop doesn’t start moving and emptying it will turn sour… again… and we’ll be dealing with that back and forth cycle. We do not plan on doing surgery again or syringe feeding like that. We adore her, but it’s no way to live for her or for us. I just keep hoping she’ll turn a corner and get better, but I realize that may not happen. Has anything helped with yours? Has the crop stasis made it go sour?

 

[guest226]

As of right now we’re doing minimal interventions compared to before. I happen to have metoclopramide (Reglan) that I’ve been giving her 2x a day that is sometimes used to help a slow crop, a stool softener 2x a day just for a few days since she’s not empty in the morning and it’s hard right now, and massaging a few times a day… but so far no change. Sadly I know that if the crop doesn’t start moving and emptying it will turn sour… again… and we’ll be dealing with that back and forth cycle. We do not plan on doing surgery again or syringe feeding like that. We adore her, but it’s no way to live for her or for us. I just keep hoping she’ll turn a corner and get better, but I realize that may not happen. Has anything helped with yours? Has the crop stasis made it go sour?

I'm sorry for your struggles, I understand. My hens issues always make me feel horribly stressed.

Her crop is not sour and somehow has not been sour for these 3 weeks. i think since she is still eating, food is slowly exiting but quickly piling back up before she can poop it out. I might do a food fast for a couple hours this weekend, but argh im so frustrated! May I ask where you got Reglan? I'm interested in a stool softener. Has it caused any side effects in your hen?

I like to make sure my hen is hydrated and I give her half a spoonful of coconut oil that she eats out of the spoon. Then for about 5-10 minutes each afternoon before she sleeps and sometimes in the morning I massage her crop. It is usually hard before I start massaging. I go in circles with my palm/fingers and i gently try to support the crop in a slight upwards motion, as the drainage point is a bit high up in her crop. but since your hens crop is bordering on sour I would be very careful that she doesnt regurgitate, which can be dangerous.

I've heard things about monistat for sour crop, although I have not really dealt with it myself.

For all 4 years i've had hens, I have never experienced such crop issues and I definitely did not know molts can cause such crazy reactions! From what i've read and what I had been told by the vet, it can be a mix of wacky hormones, energy going to the feathers and not the digestion, worms, intestine blockages, or anything. But since both of our hens are molting... I think thats the cause of our problems sorry for the long rant, im just really frustrated as well!