Older hen fluffed up and not eating

[Bigbluefrog]

Antibiotics can make sour crop worse if it is fungal. You may want to check into using a feeding tube to clean out her crop and then flush it with clean water. Some people use acidified copper sulfate 1/4 tsp per gallon for 3-5 days if sour crop does not respond to other treatments. Most of the time crop problems are related to other illnesses causing pressure inside the abdomen.

So other issues would be life ending? I am thinking the same.
I have no idea how to flush a crop
Or feeding tube! My goodness that is amazing that people have skills to do this.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

I decided to try herbs and lemon juice- ginger, turmeric, garlic,
Directly given in small doses
I read how some were able to help the hen with this solution
Copper sulfate ? I will research this as well.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Antibiotics can make sour crop worse if it is fungal. You may want to check into using a feeding tube to clean out her crop and then flush it with clean water. Some people use acidified copper sulfate 1/4 tsp per gallon for 3-5 days if sour crop does not respond to other treatments. Most of the time crop problems are related to other illnesses causing pressure inside the abdomen.

So no antibiotics! I was reading the article again- I didn't see antibiotics.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a link for acidified copper sulfate, and dosage is 1/4 teaspoonful in a gallon of water for 5 days.
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/acidified_copper_sulfate.html

Here is a video by a vet on tube feeding:

 

[butlewa]

So I need a script for antibiotics for sour crop?
my vet doesn't see chickens

Neither does my vet, but she'll write the prescription.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Antibiotics can make sour crop worse if it is fungal. You may want to check into using a feeding tube to clean out her crop and then flush it with clean water. Some people use acidified copper sulfate 1/4 tsp per gallon for 3-5 days if sour crop does not respond to other treatments. Most of the time crop problems are related to other illnesses causing pressure inside the abdomen.

It's been 7 days of monistat.
Not better, she hasn't tried to eat the egg or yogurt. Slowly getting weaker. It is time to think about culling. I lost another yesterday she was struggling to breath- after looking inside her body- liver and organs were healthy, the crop some seeds but her gizzard was full of hard seeds. They get scratch w seed daily but mostly layer or grow feed crumbles. Plenty of grit.
Water
she just was struggling to breath and she died quickly. Now today a small hen has an injured leg.
I have decided to watch her.
Cull the older hen. Both hens are older. Their insides looked perfect except for gizzard.
No eggs but they are past laying age.
Now I feed mash w water since it is warmer with a little grit sprinkled on top- dishes are washed daily.
Coop has been cleaned today and thoroughly
The hen that died we decided to burn her - normally we bury but the ground is too cold.
I been so blessed with healthy birds that this week is a little hectic.
And I am aware of avian flu- I think this is older hen age related disfunction and the little hen leg injury she is the runt and gets picked on a lot. She is in her own suite now.
God bless and hopefully tomorrow is a better day!

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Here is a link for acidified copper sulfate, and dosage is 1/4 teaspoonful in a gallon of water for 5 days.
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/acidified_copper_sulfate.html

Here is a video by a vet on tube feeding:

Oh man! You know as a hygienist I am really good at seeing mouths but this- is out of my comfort zone-
Your a rock star if you can do that!

 

[Eggcessive]

There are a number of other videos and threads about learning to tube feed if you need them. Sorry about losing the hen.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

There are a number of other videos and threads about learning to tube feed if you need them. Sorry about losing the hen.

The one I am treating is slowly dying.
Another older hen just passed in my arms. She was struggling to breath.
I opened her up and she looked absolutely perfect! Liver, lungs, muscles tissue was healthy even her comb was red and perfect- her crop empty but her gizzard was hard and full of sand seeds scratch items.
The dying one is so weak today- she lifted her head but didn't get up to greet me. Imagine she hasn't got any food for 2 weeks. She had approved food available but I bet it is her gizzard as well. Another blockage. The only thing I can think of - we mistakenly bought hay instead of straw. As soon as I saw they wanted to eat it- I raked it up and put it away for my garden use. That was a month ago so
At this point I am letting her die w dignity as she is a fighter. And she doesn't appear to be suffering just sleeping.
I am sad as this is my first chick from my first flock. I know she fought hard and she was my strongest hen-
I never lost 2 hens in one week. On top of it Another little hen is limping. She is in my brooder with her leg wrapped. Too many at one time- we been blessed with healthy chickens and good luck this week not so much. I feel sad and like I failed in some way.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you contact your state vet lab to see about getting a necropsy on the one that is dying? They can take tissue samples and do testing for various diseases. Do you have a rooster or high roosts that could cause the limping? Sorry that you lost another. Here is the list of state vets:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...7IOlHOhP-eD8qMtZ70RNq6BMO9kVUn3x6so7q0Z_JgEr8