Need help with diagnosis

[flinthillbillie]

I sure hope someone here can help me figure this out. Yesterday I noticed one of my hens had a darker than usual comb and wattles. She seemed to be moving slowly, but wasn't isolating herself. This evening when I got home I brought her inside and put her in a big dog crate so I could try to see more of what's going on. Here's what I'm seeing:
Dark comb,
Squishy and rather large in the crop area,
Very watery droppings with dark green poo in them,
She's eating and drinking: I've given her organic yogurt, hard boiled egg (she acted like she was starving when I offered her that!) and some softened, non-medicated, chick starter (because it's crumbles as opposed to her laying pellets)
Her breathing does not seem distressed, raspy or gurgly,
Her eyes are bright,
I looked down her throat (that was a first!) and it's clean as a whistle and there was no bad smell.
She's a 13 month old Black Australorp. In hindsight, I don't recall seeing her in a nesting box recently, but I can't say for certain if she's been laying or not.
I'd sure appreciate some help on this one if anyone's got any ideas of what's going on.

 

[s6bee]

I really can't give you a lot of help but my first though due to the comb color change was some sort of respitory issue.
Did you check to see signs with crop problems?

 

[s6bee]

Ok, I tried finding something about the crop and the only thing I really got was that a soft crop is not an impacted one. However they suggest taking food away at night so that in theory the crop should be empy by a.m. Does she free range? Could she have gotten something in there that is creating an infectoin. I know you didn't smell anything but I think that is only if there is old food stuck in there. Some suggest giving some sort of edible oil to help with what ever may be in there. If that's the problem. I don't know what else to say. Just look up chicken diseases and see if there's a match.

 

[flinthillbillie]

I thought respiratory too, but then wouldn't she be more distressed or having breathing difficulties?
I've pulled her food for the night and will see how her crop looks and feels in the morning. I assume things are moving through if she's pooping - just maybe not fast enough?
I'll try some olive oil tomorrow. I've been searching and searching for some kind of matching of symptoms but it seems like she has one symptom for each of 3 or 4 different things. How crazy is that? Poor little Meggory. At least she seems to like all the attention!
Thanks for your input and I'll keep looking and will update on her tomorrow.

 

[flinthillbillie]

They only free range for about an hour each evening. I did just move their pen a few weeks ago and spread lime on the old area and have been turning the soil in there some each evening while the flock is out. Could the lime somehow cause a problem?

 

[Half-a-dozen]

I was thinking exactly what you said about a few syptoms to different issues??? The dark comb, If dark as in drawn and dark....dull and not bright red then that would make sense I think if she is not well. The eating like a scavenger??? I heard they can't eat enough...fast enough or become "full" so to speak if they have worms.....which may expalin the droppings being watery/ discolored??? I would do exactly what you are doing, seperated and a close eye until new symptoms develop or you have someone else post suggestions to a diagnosis.
Sorry couldn't be more help.......Good luck!!!

 

[flinthillbillie]

Well, since it's the weekend I can't do much except wait and watch. Maybe I could get our local vet to do a fecal on her poop. I have no idea if they deal with chickens at all, but I'll see. Is there any other way to tell if worms are present and what kind they'd be? She doesn't act like she's starving, really, but she was sure happy to have that egg!

 

[flinthillbillie]

Just an update: She's looking like there's a bit more color in her comb. I even asked my husband what he thought and he agreed. She's drinking lots of water and that's mostly what's coming out the arse end of her. Still has the squishy crop area. Do you think it could be an air sac, separate from the crop? I really can't tell. Anyway, she's much perkier and looks like she's holding her head higher and is curious about her new surroundings. So....we wait and see. Besides the yogurt is there anything I should be giving her like vitamins or pedialyte?