Older hen fluffed up and not eating

[Bigbluefrog]

I am home.
She is alert and drinking lots of water
He had 2 water dishes w fresh water and food untouched
When I picked her up her crop feels squishy and she immediately expelled clear fluid
Is this sour crop?
Water belly i read there is no cure so I will research sour crop.

I been extremely lucky not to have to deal with too many emergencies but this is a new one.

So I gave her coconut oil and massaged her belly and she regurgitating brown smelly liquid.
Tipping her upside down and then giving her a break from it all
Reduced the fluid in her crop significantly. Took all food away- will do this again in half an hour
She is not doing well.
Augh if only I was home- sooner.

Today would be a good day for a beer

 

[Barnette]

@Wyorp Rock

 

[Bawkbok]

So I gave her coconut oil and massaged her belly and she regurgitating brown smelly liquid.
Tipping her upside down and then giving her a break from it all
Reduced the fluid in her crop significantly. Took all food away- will do this again in half an hour
She is not doing well.
Augh if only I was home- sooner.

Today would be a good day for a beer

I'm sorry to hear of your challenges. Even if you were home sooner, things might not be different than they are now. Don't be hard on yourself and your husband did the best he could, especially if the chickens are your thing - it's great that he tried to help her. Hoping for the best and that she will recover or you can identify the root cause of her ailing and help restore her to health.

 

[Eggcessive]

She sounds like she has sour crop. I don’t recommend tipping her forward or upside down to make her vomit, since that has the potential to cause her to choke and aspirate and die. Offer her fluids with electrolytes tomorrow. Check her crop early morning before she drinks to see if it has emptied. Do not massage her crop if it is full and puffy. Be careful not to accidentally press on her crop if her pick her up, since it can force fluid and crop contents back up into her throat and airway. This is a good article on crop problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Eggcessive]

Water belly is fluid inside the abdomen, lower down, and should not be confused with a liquid or sour crop. Reproductive disorders or water belly can lead to crop problems from increased pressure inside the abdomen.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

She sounds like she has sour crop. I don’t recommend tipping her forward or upside down to make her vomit, since that has the potential to cause her to choke and aspirate and die. Offer her fluids with electrolytes tomorrow. Check her crop early morning before she drinks to see if it has emptied. Do not massage her crop if it is full and puffy. Be careful not to accidentally press on her crop if her pick her up, since it can force fluid and crop contents back up into her throat and airway. This is a good article on crop problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Thanks, I went to store for monistat
And plain yogurt.

When massaging she regurgitated

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Update- hen is a fighter! Eyes are wide open and alert.
She is my top matriarch hen and the oldest at 5 years. She challenges every rooster, keeps them in check when younger.
She also is showing signs of weakness- tail down, lethargic, crop was full and squishy. Weird as I left her some water- the water dish was filled with a dark brown liquid this morning and it was very stinky.
I treated her with monistat last night and again this morning.
I had to force her to eat it and a 1/4 teaspoon of plain greek yogurt.
Water has acv and a little garlic oil.
Dash of redmond Salt - with minerals.
I have work all day so when I come home I may try to carry her over by her flock. We shall see. Still chilly here but less so.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sour crop can take awhile to treat, and many times is related to another issue, such as reproductive disorders, water belly, or cancer. Because of that possibility, it may be hard to treat it. The article by azygous is what many use for help. Hopefully, the Monistat and yogurt will help. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Sour crop can take awhile to treat, and many times is related to another issue, such as reproductive disorders, water belly, or cancer. Because of that possibility, it may be hard to treat it. The article by azygous is what many use for help. Hopefully, the Monistat and yogurt will help. Let us know how she gets along.

She is still alive, but getting weaker.
She wants to drink but not eating.
Unfortunately my trip away delayed treatment. We shall see.
I wonder how long it takes- the article said 7 days 2 times a day. Give monistat.

 

[Eggcessive]

The ones I have seen with it were over 5, and I had poor luck in treating it. If most usual treatments fail, I would try using acidified copper sulfate in her water 1/4 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. They sell it at Jedds.com and here:
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/acidified_copper_sulfate.html