NEED HELP ASAP--hen w/impacted crop...HOW TO GET OLIVE OIL DOWN HER?

[nnbreeder]

Another question:

I've neglected to mention the sick hen I've been writing about has a build-up of poop on her feathers below her vent. Should I do anything w/this? Been that way for a couple of days. Hope that's not making her worse.

Thanks for the advice anyone!

That along with her pale face/comb would be a suggestion of worms. If you have some Wazine-17 go ahead and worm her. The dosage is 1 fluid oz per gallon of water. The local feed store has it and it is fairly inexpensive. Don't let them steer you to the Ivermectin, if she does have a heavy infestation the worms they can block her intestines when they die and set up bad toxins that can be fatal. Give the Wazine as the sole source of water for 24 full hours.

Wazine has Piprazine as the active ingrediant and it is the worlds most widly used wormer. The CDC recommends it's use on people throughout 3rd world countries and it is very safe. All it kills is adult round worms but as I said if she does have an infestation they need to be eliminated a little at a time. If she perks up after this we will get the rest of them later.

Usually the paleness is an indication of anemia which the worms can cause.

 

[threehorses]

One of the best threads I've ever seen about impacted crops and backed up crops is this one: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/242356/urgent-crop-problems/10 page 2, Posey's post that includes information from Prissy.

One thing I'd like to suggest, coming in so late and I haven't been able to read everything yet - forgive me for that - is figuring out the cause of the problem and then I'd suggest handling the problem itself as Posey/Prissy say to.

But the big thing is finding out the cause. Common causes are:

Grains or other non-crumbles/non-pellets given with the assumption that birds have enough grit on their own.
Suddenly feeding lots of greens.
A slowed digestive tract caused by some other issue (worms, stress, bacteria, dehydration, etc).
A sick digestive tract primarily (infection, etc)
A sick digestive tract secondarily (bird is sick with respiratory illnesses or has been medicated - a sure way to slow down digestive tracts)
Impaction with foreign object.

This is the best time to review your system:

Are your birds properly wormed. Do NOT depend on your eyes - if you see worms ever, they are severely infested. Worms do not come out - they stay inside while alive. Visable worms are those that couldn't compete with the legions of other worms that are in the digestive tract, or those that are stunned by wormers, etc. Worm twice a year minimum. By the way "wormers" are true anti-worm products like a chemical wormer. Worm-prevention aids are DE, pumpkin seeds, garlic.
Are you giving grit - no matter if your birds are inside or outside? Always provide an appropriate grit for the size of the bird. Chick grit for chicks. Chicken or pigeon grit or mineral grit for adults. The rocks you see might not be the hardness needed (granite) for breaking down food. Granite grit is ideal. Oyster shell is not grit. Backed up gizzards back up the crop.

Did you suddenly feed greens? Again - see grit.
Are your birds of good weight (meaning how they feel not on the scale - learn to understand a healthy breast bone's meat coverate - not too fat, not too thin - NOT like a store bought chicken). If they aren't, there might be worms or reduced immune system issues.
Did you suddenly change feeds? Always change feeds over a 10 day period - slowly. It takes weeks for the digest tract to adult to a new diet.
Are your birds sniffling? Draining digestive tracts change the pH of the gut, causing the system to work less efficiently.
Do your birds have parasites? Weak birds' crops won't empty.
Is there a foreign body? This is difficult to tell - but it happens. Sometimes this is when emptying the crop helps. You can sometimes feel objects through the crop wall.
Is there any indication that illness came before crop statis (a slow crop)? Anything that causes problems for the bird will cause the digestive tract to slow down.

These are some things to consider. If any of this is unclear, my inbox is backed up here, but I'd be glad to clarify. Just email me at [email protected] so I can come back here and clarify for everyone, please.

Thank you!
Nathalie (Ross) Norris
http://thechickenchick.wordpress.com/

(p.s. Please do not reproduce any of my above ramblings without my expressed, written permission - thank you. Please feel free to link this post however - so that people can read this post in context of the whole conversation and know its origin )

 

[waghmg]

I did worm her with Valbazen a week ago today. I gave it to her on some bread. I also dusted her w/poultry dust that same day. In some places it says to re-worm again in 10 days. My question: Should I use Wazine this time and go ahead and do it?

I'm not seeing much change in her right now.

 

[waghmg]

Oh, and thanks to everyone so far who has tried to help. Wish I had the experience to help someone myself....maybe someday...

 

[waghmg]

NEED TO KNOW ASAP---

if i should go ahead and worm her again and with WHAT? (as mentioned already used valbazen) OR

Have Terra-Vet (tetracycline). Should I go ahead and make her water w/this and see if that makes any difference?

Thanks once more!!

 

[artsyrobin]

ok, first off- poo check, how is it today, feeding- what is she eating now and how is the crop- how about pics of her? maybe that will help some of the diagnosing- here is a good site for figuring things out- will go through my files on the worming and antibiotics - be back in a few

http://www.welphatchery.com/poultry_health.asp

 

[artsyrobin]

here is some info on wazine

The mixing for Wazine is one fluid oz per gallon of water given as the sole source of water for a full day. The Wazine only kills the adult round worms so a follow-up in 14 days is needed. Ivermectin gets a wide variety of both internal and external parasites.

For a very heavy worm load it is recommended to use the Wazine for the first two wormings and then follow it up in 14 days with the Ivermectin. The reason being is that if all the worms die off at once it can cause blockage in the intestinal tract

i would go ahead and do the wazine, in case that is what you are dealing with

 

[waghmg]

You're great for taking the time to help....much, much appreciated

Still about the same this a.m. Her crop seemed small, maybe had a little in it, but I forgot and left a little dish of the powdered crumbles so she may have eaten. Gave a (very) little bit of yogurt/applesauce, tried to fight me a little on that but took SOME. Poop seem a LITTLE more solid...Not huge amt...Still eating a LITTLE powdered crumbles....Don't think she lives the ACV in her water...

Since it's been a week since I used the valbazen for worms. May pick up some Wazine and use it today.

As for info on whether I should use tetracycline...I'd appreciate any advice on that...still haven't given it, waiting for more info if anyone has it.


Again, THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[nnbreeder]

Go ahead and start her on the Tetracycline. She was sick before the crop problems devoloped and it is a good broad-spectrum antibiotic.

While on the meds cut out any yogurt or pro-biotics and just give her the layer feed and the medicated water. Tomorrow give her a very good examination, look her over and note anything that seems out of place. Look in her mouth with a light and see if there are any white or yellowish growths, if there is don't disturb them. Feel along her Keel bone and note the amount of flesh on either side and continue along to her vent. Is the underside red, swollen or feverish?

Look under her wings for any injuries like can happen from thr spurs of a rooster right down to the bottoms of her feet where her pads could be red and swollen.

Her eyes should be clear and bright with no swollen areas or bubbles in the corners. Note how she breathes, is it easy or labored or does she wheeze?

At this point anything can be a symptom so if anything unusual is found be sure to mention it.

 

[artsyrobin]

how is she doing?