My chicken is sick and I dont know what to do

[Roasted-potato]

My birds name is Tulip, she is a light sussex, maybe 4-6 years old. Yesterday she stayed in the egg box all morning, eventually laying an egg, she is normally pretty vocal about eggs but she was very quiet, which we thought was odd. In the evening I noticed she had an empty crop and was super easy to catch, she hadn't preened her self and had sticky stuff in her wing. Upon examining her wing we concluded it was not from her body but she didn't put her own wing away and showed a slight disinterest in seeds. Upon giving her seeds the best I can describe it was choking. We put her to bed hoping she would be fine. In the morning she was 2nd out the coop, a good sign, but she still isn't eating or drinking, her tail is down. We have tried treats and mushed up feed but she just moves it round and doesn't eat it. Her comb is bright red though.

Last week we introduced 2 new birds, both are very small and young and have ended up integrating well at the bottom of the pecking order, but are too fast to have any scraps. One of the new birds has sneezed a couple of times, no birds have any other symptoms, and the 2 new birds are from the original breeder that we got our birds from.

Currently we are treating a mite problem but I can't see any other issues. Tulip's poop was very green and runny, no blood though. We have quarantined tulip who is standing very still, tail down in the shade which is very unusual normally she is pressed up against the gate yelling to be let out.

The birds are allowed free reign of our garden, if there is a pest about or its raining or snowing they stay in a cage off area at the back of house, it has plenty of stuff for the chickens to do and is the main dustbath area. They have a coop with roosts and a nest box attached to sleep in. The 2 new birds although they go together around the garden as a large flock during the day they have not shared the coop at night and have stayed in a separate shelter.

I'd prefer not to go out in the current climate and would really love some advice!

I know she is an older bird and I fear the worst but I really do love her a lot and I would like to help her out!

 

[Roasted-potato]

She has a sticky/leaky beak, but it looks clear inside. Earlier she bent down and loads of water came out.

I'm concerned it sourcrop and I dont know how to treat it and had a bird die from sour crop some years ago. Please help!

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she may have a respiratory disease, possibly brought in by one of the new additions. She could have a virus, such as infectious bronchitis or ILT, or a bacterial disease, such as MG, coryza or others depending on what symptoms she has. I would separate her and offer water and food several times a day. If you can locate antibiotics from a vet, that might help.
Here is some reading about those:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Roasted-potato]

I have her quarantined, she is more perky in quarantine but still not herself. Because she isn't eating, I've learnt towards a more kind of crop issue, and I am trying to reset her digestive system. So I took stuff from her so she wouldn't eat anything and could reset, she now has water because that will pass better than pellets in an attempt to literally flush her system. I am going to try some wet mushed up pellets, cheese, yogurt and/or scrambled egg later on

 

[Roasted-potato]

She is still quarantined, I've given her layers pellets and water and she hasn't touched them, she isn't sneezing, her crop feels good, she is looking good, her comb is good but the lack of food, water and generally quietness about being quarantined worries me still. Anyone got advice?

 

[RumneyRoost]

If her crop is empty I would keep trying to get her to eat. Scrambled eggs, wet cat food, canned tuna.
It’s hard to say with an older bird. Reproductive issues are common, and crop issues can be a symptom of that.
If she picked up a virus from the new birds than hopefully she can fight it off. I wouldn’t recommend antibiotics without knowing what is going on.

Do you have access to a poultry vet? Continue supportive care, hopefully she can pull through on her own.

 

[Roasted-potato]

She had some drool come out of her when she bent down, it was all clear and was watery consistency. She then had a second lot brought up containing one half digested layers pellet. She has finally eaten and drunk something though, might try adding apple cider vinegar in her water tomorrow

 

[RumneyRoost]

Sometimes when they bend over water will come out if they’ve just had a drink.
Does her breath smell at all?
I would be sure to check her crop every morning to make sure it’s still emptying.

 

[Roasted-potato]

Her breath does not smell, the fluid was only coming out when she was bent over, I know this is normal for some birds but she has never done it before and the strange behaviour etc was just odd.
Today she has eaten some food and drank some stuff, she had a half full crop that felt really good tonight. Fingers crossed for tomorrow

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

My birds name is Tulip, she is a light sussex, maybe 4-6 years old. Yesterday she stayed in the egg box all morning, eventually laying an egg, she is normally pretty vocal about eggs but she was very quiet, which we thought was odd. In the evening I noticed she had an empty crop and was super easy to catch, she hadn't preened her self and had sticky stuff in her wing. Upon examining her wing we concluded it was not from her body but she didn't put her own wing away and showed a slight disinterest in seeds. Upon giving her seeds the best I can describe it was choking. We put her to bed hoping she would be fine. In the morning she was 2nd out the coop, a good sign, but she still isn't eating or drinking, her tail is down. We have tried treats and mushed up feed but she just moves it round and doesn't eat it. Her comb is bright red though.

Last week we introduced 2 new birds, both are very small and young and have ended up integrating well at the bottom of the pecking order, but are too fast to have any scraps. One of the new birds has sneezed a couple of times, no birds have any other symptoms, and the 2 new birds are from the original breeder that we got our birds from.

Currently we are treating a mite problem but I can't see any other issues. Tulip's poop was very green and runny, no blood though. We have quarantined tulip who is standing very still, tail down in the shade which is very unusual normally she is pressed up against the gate yelling to be let out.

The birds are allowed free reign of our garden, if there is a pest about or its raining or snowing they stay in a cage off area at the back of house, it has plenty of stuff for the chickens to do and is the main dustbath area. They have a coop with roosts and a nest box attached to sleep in. The 2 new birds although they go together around the garden as a large flock during the day they have not shared the coop at night and have stayed in a separate shelter.

I'd prefer not to go out in the current climate and would really love some advice!

I know she is an older bird and I fear the worst but I really do love her a lot and I would like to help her out!

Some hope: She's not exactly and older bird. Chickens can live to be fifteen, but as yet I've never had one die of old age. My oldests are five.