Molting, Losing Weight, Lethargic *pic*

[Aunt Angus]

Another new development!

I've got her on my lap now. I was feeling her all over. Well, she's so dang skinny, I think I missed a little lump at the bottom of her crop because I thought it was an organ or some innards. But I squished it slightly, and she burped. It smells sour.

I am now in full on sour crop treatment mode. Fingers crossed!

 

[BugStalker]

Everything else seems fine. I'm thinking internal laying or cancer now. I'm going to keep her comfortable until I am ready to put her down.

She is a rescued hen. I don't know how old she is. And I'm taking some comfort in the idea that before she came to live with me, she was able to see grass and sunshine and eat healthy food for the first time.

Thank you so much for reading and offering help. Means a lot.

I have lost hens to cancer, and one of them developed internal laying. You can typically feel some liquid in the abdomen, but I had trouble with that. I only felt it with the internal laying. She had stopped laying, but continued visiting the nest box, which is why I suspected it. It was confirmed by necropsy, which found cancer caused it. The cancer had spread to her intestines, causing similar symptoms to this. She was the only one affected. With the digestive-only problem, another bird usually has some digestive problem at the same time, because it seems to be caused by a pathogen that is contagious. If no other of your birds have any signs of indigestion, her comb is pale, she doesn't want to move or walks funny, she's had soft-shell eggs or hard yellow solids in her droppings, or any lumps or bulges or feels like liquid is inside her, it could be cancer, internal laying, or other reproductive problem. If it were me, I'd keep her drinking and give vitamins, and watch for symptoms in her and in the flock. Most birds don't get very sick with the contagious thing, just a sluggish crop for a day or so, so it can be hard to tell if that's what it is, or just the weather. It usually doesn't take many days until more symptoms develop or she's in distress or she improves.

 

[BugStalker]

Another new development!

I've got her on my lap now. I was feeling her all over. Well, she's so dang skinny, I think I missed a little lump at the bottom of her crop because I thought it was an organ or some innards. But I squished it slightly, and she burped. It smells sour.

I am now in full on sour crop treatment mode. Fingers crossed!

Sour crop can hide on me, sometimes, too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Aunt Angus]

Sour crop can hide on me, sometimes, too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Just read that article. I have medistatin.

I'm still suspecting underlying issues causing it, but anything is worth trying.

 

[Aunt Angus]

And another new development:

Lash egg? Looks like it to me.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Sorry to continue posting so much. Just ordered Baytril with expedited shipping. Imma keep treating for sour crop, too. But I'm losing hope...

 

[BugStalker]

If it is hard, it could be a lash egg. I had a hen with cancer lay something similar in https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/egg-bound-ovaduct-wash.1077576/post-16492141
The pathologist I described it to said it was yolk because it was hard. Because your image has more of a browned yellow color, it looks more like an infection to me, than cancer, so I think I'd go with Baytril. Also look into using probiotics or Medistatin with it, since her crop is already sour. I'm not aware of any interaction, but maybe @casportpony would have more information.

I'm sorry it isn't looking like simple indigestion, anymore. I hope the Baytril works for her.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I started the medistatin while I'm waiting for the Baytril to arrive. She wants to eat, but I'm not letting her just yet. I'm doing the massage the crop thing. Hopefully, the crop will be empty tomorrow.

She's being an excellent patient.

 

[BugStalker]

Water and grit help. Cocoanut oil, made into a little ball, and popped into her beak like a pill, may help massage and digestive flow, too.

 

[Aunt Angus]

She pooped quite a lot this evening, all runny and mucousy. I did give some coconut oil this morning. I put her to bed just a bit ago. She drank when I put her in the crate. Hopefully, her crop will empty overnight. More medistatin in the morning. More coconut oil. More massaging.

I'm very thankful I'm working from home right now. I guess that's one positive of this dang COVID mess.