Molting hen with liquid stool

[Chold05]

Here we are again. Just when you think your done, someone else gets sick.

My 1.5 year old Maran is molting for the first time. It’s a hard molt. I’ve switched their feed to a 18% protein a couple weeks ago. They have access to food, water and oyster shell 24/7.

I noticed she wasn’t as interested in treats (boon worms) and will only eat the crumbs.
The past couple days she’s had very loose, watery stool. More green than it should be because they haven’t been free ranging very much due to predators in the area.


I fed her a hard boiled egg yesterday and her crop felt full earlier today when I checked it. She been standing around puffed up and eyes closed a decent bit but I chalked that up to her molting. But the poo is a little strange.

Is it possible it’s just the molting making her lethargic with strange poo? Pics below.

 

[DobieLover]

Here we are again. Just when you think your done, someone else gets sick.

My 1.5 year old Maran is molting for the first time. It’s a hard molt. I’ve switched their feed to a 18% protein a couple weeks ago. They have access to food, water and oyster shell 24/7.

I noticed she wasn’t as interested in treats (boon worms) and will only eat the crumbs.
The past couple days she’s had very loose, watery stool. More green than it should be because they haven’t been free ranging very much due to predators in the area.


I fed her a hard boiled egg yesterday and her crop felt full earlier today when I checked it. She been standing around puffed up and eyes closed a decent bit but I chalked that up to her molting. But the poo is a little strange.

Is it possible it’s just the molting making her lethargic with strange poo? Pics below.

Did you check her crop again in the morning to see that it had emptied?

 

[Chold05]

Did you check her crop again in the morning to see that it had emptied?

I just checked and her crop this morning before I let them out... her crop is about the size of a golf ball and very hard.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I just checked and her crop this morning before I let them out... her crop is about the size of a golf ball and very hard.

Crop not emptying overnight, needs to be addressed.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Chold05]

Crop not emptying overnight, needs to be addressed.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

THank you! I gave her about 2 tsp of coconut oil and massaged it. It went down about 80%. I was able to get her a vet appointment for tomorrow as well, so I will be sure to post any updates!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Let us know how the visit goes

 

[Chold05]

Update on Wisp:

I dropped her off at the vet on Tuesday. The vet said her crop felt normal mid day (I disagree with this diagnoses as her crop was hard and the size of a golf ball 2 days in a row. This morning it was much softer but partially full) She also ran some blood work and fecal test but were waiting on the results.

In the meantime, she suggested I bring her inside and started her on Metocolpramide shots every 8 hours. She still isn't super interested her feed but has been eating hard boiled eggs.

Today the vet called back with the results. Her fecal was negative for parasites but her WBC were high, at 50%. (Apparently they shouldnt be higher than 30% which indicates infection.)

The plan is to start her on an antibiotic as well as a pain med (she's been standing on one leg alot) and continue with the Metoclopramide.

Hopefully the antibiotic clears it up and this helps someone else.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I hope she recovers with treatment.

 

[Chold05]

So the antibiotics didnt seem to work... We switched her to a stronger antibiotic and are treating for sour crop, even though the vet didnt see any yeast on the swab. She's also continuing on the Metoclopramide. The vet said her reproductive tract is "enlarged" and thinks that's what's causing the infection. It's been 5 days on the new meds and she has shown little improvement. Her crop is still not empty in the mornings and she has no interest in eating or drinking, except foraging. I let her out yesterday and within minutes she was eating a praying mantus. (Usually I would stop her, but I let it go since she finally wanted to eat something.)

I've given her coconut oil and massaged the crop, scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, applesauce, wetting her food, meal worms, yogurt, pumpkin puree, cat food, spinach, different concoctions trying to sneak real food in with treats- you name it- to no avail. She's even lost interest in blueberries. The only thing she wants to eat is fresh pumpkin.

A friend of mine recommended Kaytee's hand feed. I know there some controversary around syringe feeding, but at this point I don't know what else to do.

I also ordered her a crop bra that should be arriving today. I'm praying it helps because it's the last card I have

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry that she's not improving.

Very often there is an underlying condition which causes crop symptoms.
Reproductive disorders can be common in laying hen, worms, infection, etc. can also be contributors.

Unfortunately, if the underlying problem is reproductive, then a hen can have good/bad days, but most of the time all you can do is offer supportive care and make them comfortable. I leave mine with the flock so they aren't alone and treat them as needed.

If you do lose her, then doing your own necropsy can be educational or if you are not up to it, then sending the body to have a formal necropsy will give you information as to what was going on.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html