Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[drstratton]

This girl!

 

[cavemanrich]

This girl!
View attachment 4237703

I can read chickens....
She is saying,,,, OK,, JUST ONE TINY KISS

 

[drstratton]

I can read chickens....
She is saying,,,, OK,, JUST ONE TINY KISS

Or...that eye sure looks interesting...lol

 

[drstratton]

I have another sick hen, Sable my Speckled Sussex. Need to bring her in, assess, ask the experts and hope I have what I need in my supplies to treat her. Clip a wing on my escape artist... yes she's still getting out! Don't want her needlessly killed. I went outside yesterday before heading to town, she sees me and comes running...lol

 

[drstratton]

I was able to catch her this morning, she has slowed way down. Her abdomen does not seem swollen. I think it might be a crop issue. The last time I checked her she had food in her crop. It was soft and pliable. Today, it was the same and I'm pretty sure she hasn't been eating. I don't know if it's sour crop or impacted. It's good that it's not rock hard. In the 35 years I've had chickens, I've been fortunate to have not had any major crop issues until this poor girl.

I watched a video.
I turned her upside down, and started to massage her crop and immediately got some sandy liquid out. It did not smell foul and her crop really isn't hard. I did that quite a few times giving her breaks. Then I administered 10ml of olive oil, the Vet tech on the video made it look much easier. There was oil on her, me, the floor and the wall...lol Anyway, I refilled the syringe and got some more down her. Massaged a little in the upright position. Set her down and dipped her beak into the water a few times to help keep her hydrated. I will withhold food. She hasn't pooped since I brought her inside, hopefully things will start to move. I will go through the massage process again tonight, hopefully she will vomit. Then let her rest overnight to see if she has pooped and check if her crop has improved. If not, I will go through the process again to see if I can get her to vomit.

I have her in my laundry room.

 

[N F C]

I was able to catch her this morning, she has slowed way down. Her abdomen does not seem swollen. I think it might be a crop issue. The last time I checked her she had food in her crop. It was soft and pliable. Today, it was the same and I'm pretty sure she hasn't been eating. I don't know if it's sour crop or impacted. It's good that it's not rock hard. In the 35 years I've had chickens, I've been fortunate to have not had any major crop issues until this poor girl.

I watched a video.
I turned her upside down, and started to massage her crop and immediately got some sandy liquid out. It did not smell foul and her crop really isn't hard. I did that quite a few times giving her breaks. Then I administered 10ml of olive oil, the Vet tech on the video made it look much easier. There was oil on her, me, the floor and the wall...lol Anyway, I refilled the syringe and got some more down her. Massaged a little in the upright position. Set her down and dipped her beak into the water a few times to help keep her hydrated. I will withhold food. She hasn't pooped since I brought her inside, hopefully things will start to move. I will go through the massage process again tonight, hopefully she will vomit. Then let her rest overnight to see if she has pooped and check if her crop has improved. If not, I will go through the process again to see if I can get her to vomit.

I have her in my laundry room.

It's always worrisome when one of the flock is having issues. Sounds like you've done a good job with her Rene, hope she is back to her usual asap.

 

[drstratton]

It's always worrisome when one of the flock is having issues. Sounds like you've done a good job with her Rene, hope she is back to her usual asap.

It is hard, because it's just guesswork. All we can do is try our best for them. I hope she will pull through.

Thank you Debby!

 

[drstratton]

After talking with someone, I have decided to discontinue the above treatment. I didn't like the process and was warned against it. I'm a different method and will share what it is and more about how it goes later.

 

[drstratton]

She is much improved this morning. I still think she has something in her crop. She pooped 7 times and it actually has a little substance to it. She was also very hungry. Gave her some mash and grapes.

Yesterday I gave her a Docusate Sodium 100mg tablet. I massaged her crop for a count of 30 about every 30 minutes. I also have her some scrambled egg with anti fungal cream and baytril in it. She didn't touch it.

I still need to study up on how to flush her crop out, in case we need to do that. Worst case scenario, I've seen where they do surgery to clean it out. I really hope we won't have to do that.

I will put her back out with the flock today, but will keep a close eye on her as I think she still has a problem. I feel like I have bought her some time.

A least she made it onto the paper 6 out of 7 times...lol

Make that 8.

 

[drstratton]

Back out with her sisters.