Oh NO! Another problem in our tiny flock... impacted crop now?

[SandraChick]

I vote for leaves too!

An additional benefit is that with fresh leaves you'll be sure to get a few bugs too...which the chickens will absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

SO glad your hen is doing better.....Isn't nice to see the "old self" back again. For my hen, I knew she was going to turn the corner when she began to preen !


Sandra

 

[SeaChick]

Hi guys-

Penny is doing so much better. This morning her crop was totally empty, back to normal..... until I fed her and she ate like she'd never seen food before!!!

She is REALLY loving the poached, chopped eggs I have been making for her.

Even the "dandruff" is improving. I plan to keep her inside one more day and then let her back with the other girls tomorrow. I already removed as much straw as I could and replaced with leaves. I guess I will have to keep several bags of the leaves this fall.... but when I run out I wonder what I'll use? I'll put the vitamins/electrolytes in their waterer and keep a close eye on Penelope's crop.

Thanks for being here for me during this crisis!!!!


For anyone searching for info on crop problems in the future (as I spent hours doing) here is a recap:
Initial Symptoms: very full crop that did not empty at night, not rock-hard but pliable like modeling clay, could feel fibrous material. Thin bird. "Dandruff" of flakes off the feather quills>
First treatment: Isolated bird to dog crate inside, on newspaper so she wouldn't eat any more fibrous stuff and I could monitor poop. Massaged the crop for 5-10 minutes periods ever few hours. Fed water with raw apple cider vinegar (a small splash in the waterer) and plain live-culture yogurt mixed with baby-bird-food from the pet store.
The next day her crop had partially emptied but still had some finrous, clay-like solids. Fed more of above foods, plus bread loaked with A LOT of olive oil, and later with mineral oil. More massage.
New symptoms: Perhaps due to the strange diet, her crop blew up again but different: soft, squishy, gassy and balloon-like.
Threatment: Continued with massage. Stopped the yogurt and ACV in case they were responible for the gassiness of the crop. On vet's recommendation, fed her normal food (layer pellets) soaked/softened in water. Also fed some chopped ppached egg. Continued with massage.
That seemed to do the trick.
In retrospect, I think the massage and oil probably helped move the blockage, which had been making her unable to absorb nutrients, hence the skinnyness and dandruff. She seems on the mend now.

Stacey

 

[arlee453]

Wonderful news! I'm so glad to hear she is on the uphill now!

I swear this list is better than a soap opera - it's always some new drama and I get so worried about you guy's sick chickens! But it's great when there is a happy ending! Thanks for the update...

Now, if we'd just hear back from Davecash I think I can sleep tonight...

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
I'm not sure why that should matter? Pine shavings don't mold very easily (certainly a lot less than straw!) and if they get wet, they get wet, right? <shrug> I know they'll wick water horizontally a bit more than leaves will, but am not certain why this should matter as long as most of your run is under cover?

If the shavings at the edge get *so* wet that there's a puddle, you could put down part of a bag of wood chips or big bark chips from the garden center underneath for drainage then put shavings over top of them.

If the problem is that the shavings get mud mixed into them in the wet areas, get some of those black rubber grid-type flooring tiles they sell at home depot or wherever, and put them down underneath the shavings along the wet areas. You'd have to pull the tiles up to clean under them every now and then since some shavings would sift through, but it would keep chickens from scratching the shavngs and mud together into a mudpit.

Pat

 

[mylulusmom]

Holy Cow! A Soap Opera for SURE

Well, I may be in for a repeat performance of your problems. With winter being the way it has, I have not gotten too cuddly with my girls. Today with weather so nice, I let them out of their run to have a good scratch at the ground that finally is snow free.

I got a chance to pick a few up and say hello and hang out for awhile. The Buff Orp felt so thin under all of those feathers, and Well, I am hoping that tomorrow morning their crops will be "down". If not, its mineral oil cocktails for maybe 3 or 4 of them.
I must admit, from what i've been reading you got lucky with the oil and massages. So many of the other sites suggested surgery! I could if I had to. Its finding help that is going to be the problem. There is always the ex husband...?!Ugh, but he would help. He is a hunter, and has cleaned enough birds in his day, so he would know right where I would need to cut.
This is an amazing group of folks.Maybe one day I too will be wise enough

to offer advice instead of just lurking and reading for answers.
Thanks.

mylulusmom

 

[Chickinlittle1]

I know this post is old but I wanted to get this info. out there! I have a Bird on its last leg & have been fighting for Mos. with a Fungal Crop. SHE HASN'T ATE ANY GRAINS OR MEALWORMS for "10DAYS". She will Only Eat a Variety of Grass.
BEFORE I go into the info. I rec'd I wanted to mention a Product "ORGANIC COCONUT OIL BY JARROW" You can Find it at Sprouts. If it wasn't for this/use of Caprylic Acid Tablets by SOLGAR (use to crush to fine powder & sprinkle on Broken up DRIED Mealworms). I'm Specific on the Brands because the Solgar has the Least additives /NO Glucose Based preservatives. I TRY TO CAREFULLY/GENTLY MASSAGE THE CROP AFTER CONSUMING & YOU DON'T WANT TOO MUCH WATER IN THE CROP. THE REASON IS THAT THE ACID NEEDS TO ABSORB INTO THE CROP WALLS/FUNGUS BALLS IF ANY. SLIME IS OK & YOUR HEN PROBABLY ISN'T DRINKING MUCH ANYWAYS. I RECOMMEND IF USING THE TABS TO START WITH 1/4 OF THAT TAB CRUSHED UP. you can add more if you think its necessary but I wouldn't exceed it by too much only because of a possible upset stomach. The COCONUT OIL is Best to Refrigerate & then break it into small chunks. they don't like it when it gets stuck on the beak. Massage this in after consuming also.
My Problem Hen WHO IS 12 Y.O. DID STOP eating the tabs here recently & I suspect its because due to the magnesium it can cause stomach upset if they eat too much. STRESS IS A BIG TRIGGER on Fungal. I felt her crop which was way down but then the darn Rooster tried to jump on her but he got off quick realizing he was upsetting her I KNEW this probably made her stressed & sure enough 15min later I felt her Crop Again & it was bigger!!! It went back down later but Stress is REALLY BAD. I LITERALLY Had To Run Fencing down the middle of my coop to keep her happy but yet separate from the others. THE CROP FUNGUS IS HIGHLY CONTAGEOUS!!! The Slime gets in their mouth which holds the bacteria so when they share water or the hen drops the food & another eats it is passed!!! My Stupid Avian Vet argued with me on this & stated Fungal wasn't catchy. The Intestinal isn't as long as the others don't eat food that has their fecal on it. Its VERY IMPORTANT to CLEAN DAILY & IF THEY FREE RANGE & you Have A Fungal Crop with one she WILL pass it along via the grass eating. IF THE CROP IS WAY DOWN then Transfer will be minimal & the Healthy hen will overcome a low amt. of neg. bacteria as long as they are healthy.
She would have been dead already.if I didn't use this so for mild -moderate Fungal Crob or Impaction WITH NO Secondary Infections this works Great. In THE VERY Beginning I had used LA 200 because she had a secondary. BAYTRIL I Think would have been better but I had ran out.
I had a SEVERE situation & had 2 Ball the size of Grapes on the R. Side of Crop. With Her ONLY Eating Grass I was told by a Vet that Neomycin wasn't worth a try & Fluconazole or Itraconazole was best. IN SHORT I Tried BOTH & the Pharmacy I went through Online "ROOD RIDDLE" Heightened the Sweetener on my 2nd Batch & the treatment that was initially going well backfired.
Out of Desperation I seen this site "ALL BIRD PRODUCTS" I Chatted INITIALLY online (You should see a chat box pop up & hear a Ding). I chatted with Kalvin who ALSO had a Senior Bird Specialist reading my Chat. HE SPENT 20MIN Chatting with me!!!
He Reassured me to Give her 2 Tsp. of Mashed Papaya. I was concerned that the Sugar will make her condition worse.
He Kept Reassuring me that its used all the time & that the problem is that the Crop Contents are not emptying fast enough.

IN ADDITION THIS SITE CARRIES NEOMYCIN WITHOUT A SCRIPT!!!! I WAS ALSO SHOCKED TO FIND BAYTRIL WHICH I HAD TO GET THROUGH A VET BEFORE AND IT WAS REASONABLY PRICED!!!!
I HAVE NOT GIVEN THE PAPAYA YET JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO GIVE THE NEOMYCIN-WATER MIX IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PAPAYA JUST IN CASE OF A BACKFIRE. I USED THE 2 DAY MAIL OPTION BUT I'M FEARING I WON'T GET IT TILL MON. THEY INITIALLY SUGGESTED I GIVE THEM IN CONJUNCTION BUT DUE TO THE SITUATION HE TOLD ME TOP GO AHEAD..
I DID GET MY NERVE UP & TRIED TO GIVE IT TO HER MASHED. SHE TOOK "1" PIECE & THEN PUSHED THE BOWL AWAY.
I THINK SHE IS SCARED ALSO THAT THE SUGAR WILL MAKE THINGS WORSE.
I JUST READ UP ON THE ENZYME PROPERTIES OF PAPAYA(BETTER IF YOU CAN FIND ORGANIC). ORGANIC OR NOT IT STILL CONTAINS THE SAME ENZYMES THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BREAK DOWN THE FOOD.
TODAY SHE DOESN'T LOOK SO HOT SO I'M GOING TO WAIT FOR THE MAIL TO COME BUT IF IT DOESN'T I HAVE GROUND UP A SM. BOWL OF DRIED MEALWORMS & THE PURINA OMEGA PELLET TO A FINE POWDER. THIS IS A GOOD HIGH QUALITY FOOD THAT EVEN CONTAINS SM. AMTS OF COPPER SULFATE/LACTOBACILLUS/OYSTER SHELL ALL GROUND INTO A SMALL PELLET.. I'M THEN GOING TO ADD PAPAYA(2TSP MASHED WAS RECOMMENDED) & ALSO A SM. AMT. OF THE CAPRYLIC ACID TAB GROUND UP JUST IN CASE OF A BACKFIRE FROM THE CARBS/SUGAR. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO FORCE IT DOWN BUT I'm NOT GOING TO LET HER DIE BEFORE THE MEDS GET HERE. I'M SURE THIS WILL STRESS HER OUT A LITTLE BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE.

THIS WILL AT LEAST KEEP HER GOING UNTIL I GET THE NEOMYCIN. MY AVIAN VET OF 30YRS INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT IF FLUCONAZOLE(I GOT FROM HER) DIDN'T WORK THEN IT WASN'T FUNGAL.SHE STATED THAT NEOMYCIN IS THE WEAKER OF THEM ALL SO I SHOULDN'T BOTHER. SHE DID SWABS & ALREADY CONFIRMED FUNGAL. TO TOP IT OFF I WAS RIGHT ON 2 PRIOR DIAGNOSES OUT OF 3 ON OTHER HENS SO I HAVE GIVEN UP ON THIS AVAIN VET & HER INFO.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE BEST INFO. I GOT FOR MY $100 WAS IF THE HEN IS REGURGITATING THE BEST THING TO GIVE IS 1/4 TAB OF A 200MG. IBUPROFIN TAB. IT WORKS!
TO CLOSE AFTER SPEAKING TO KALVIN HE REASSURED ME THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN THESE INSTRUCTIONS 100'S OF TIMES & IT WORKS. I READ UP ON NEOMYCIN & IN LAYMANS TERMS IT BREAKS DOWN THE CELLULAR STRUCTURE OF THE FUNGUS & LITERALLY PUNCHES HOLES THROUGH IT & THEREFOR WEAKENS-KILLS IT.
I WILL TRY TO REPORT BACK ON THE PAPAYA.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE COCONUT OIL IS IF YOUR HEN ISN'T EATING THE ORGANIC COCONUT OIL WILL PROVIDE FAT(MCT'S/OMEGAS) TO YOUR HEN WHICH GIVES THEM ENERGY TO SURVIVE!!!.
MY HEN DOESN'T WANT IT NOW & I PRESUME BECAUSE SHE IS TRYING TO BUILD AN ACIDIC ATMOSPHERE WITH THE GRASS. YES I TRIED BRAGGS UNFILTERED ACV & IT ONLY SLIGHTLY HELPED. I THINK IT MAY BE DUE TO THE POTASSIUM (RAISES SUGAR) IN ADDITION TO ANY ACID WILL KILL OFF SOME OF THE GOOD BACTERIA.
I SEE PEOPLE SWEAR BY IT BUT EVEN MY 2 THAT HAD INTESTINAL YEAST DIDN'T WANT IT BUT ATE THE HECK OUT OF THAT COCONUT OIL/MEALWORM COMBO. HECK THEY WOULD EAT SMALL CHUNKS OF THOSE TABS TOO & THAT STUFF TASTES PRETTY RANK. ITS BETTER TO BREAK THEM DOWN TO POWDER SO IT COATS THE INTESTINES HOWEVER IT DOES HAVE MAGNESIUM SO THIS WILL MAKE THEIR POOPS A LITTLE RUNNY.
AS FAR AS HOW MUCH TO GIVE I HAD AN ORGANIC BIRD SPEC. STATE THAT IT WON'T HURT THEM SO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WILL INGEST. THIS IS SLIGHTLY INCORRECT BECAUSE TOO MUCH CAPRYLIC ACID WILL CAUSE STOMACH UPSET. I SUGGEST IF USING THE SOLGAR CAPRYLIC ACID TABS VS THE OIL TO START WITH CRUSHING
I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF INFO. BUT I HAVE HAD 3+ MOS. OF FIGHTING EXPERIENCE & I DO HAVE A MEDICAL BACKGROUND TO BOOT. I'M THOROUGH! LOL.