Please help: Young hen lethargic, strange poo, crop full this morning

[aoxa]

I checked out your thread aznewmom, sorry to hear you lost your girl

At least she passed in your arms

Mine is still hanging in there, today she is acting totally normal and happy but her crop still isn't emptying. Yesterday morning she seemed a little punky again and I had to go out of town overnight so of course I was worrying about her the whole time. When I got home today she was acting just fine, I got her to eat some bread soaked in olive oil, massaged her crop, and she drank some water. Her poops are a normal texture but kind of small and bright green. Not sure what that means, but it seems at least some food is going through

Give her some plain yoghurt too. Very good for sour crop. Don't give her ACV, it makes it worse.

 

[FoxyChicken]

Today I thought I would change my tactics and try flushing with water via tube instead of olive oil on bread. I've never tube fed so I was kind of nervous about it. I brought her in the house and just started massaging her crop for a good while until she settled down and actually seemed to be enjoying it. It's pretty cold outside so I think she was enjoying the warmth as well. I figured I'd see if she would drink on her own and avoid having to use the tube, and boy did she drink! Whenever she would take a break from drinking I would massage her and I could definitely feel it loosening up. This went on for a good half hour, then I actually started hearing some gurgling and other noised come from her crop and her demeanor totally changed. It was like she went from loving the massage to hating it and she just started going crazy preening herself, chattering and looking around. Something must have dislodged and given her some relief because it was a very quick change. She seemed to be getting pretty comfortable in the house so I quick brought her back out to the coop before she decided to move in with us!

I figure I'll do it again this afternoon and tonight and hopefully that will take care of it

 

[pwand]

Today I thought I would change my tactics and try flushing with water via tube instead of olive oil on bread. I've never tube fed so I was kind of nervous about it.  I brought her in the house and just started massaging her crop for a good while until she settled down and actually seemed to be enjoying it.  It's pretty cold outside so I think she was enjoying the warmth as well. I figured I'd see if she would drink on her own and avoid having to use the tube, and boy did she drink! Whenever she would take a break from drinking I would massage her and I could definitely feel it loosening up.  This went on for a good half hour, then I actually started hearing some gurgling and other noised come from her crop and her demeanor totally changed.  It was like she went from loving the massage to hating it and she just started going crazy preening herself, chattering and looking around. Something must have dislodged and given her some relief because it was a very quick change.  She seemed to be getting pretty comfortable in the house so I quick brought her back out to the coop before she decided to move in with us!   
I figure I'll do it again this afternoon and tonight and hopefully that will take care of it   

Any chance you dewormed her with Safeguard. Worms can cause the crop to slowly empty. Others things of course as well. If you feel its an impaction in her crop, defiantly tube feed water. If she has sour crop, oil will not help this. In the morning is her crop hard or soft and mushy? Hopefully in the morning she has a flat crop, you need three mornings in a row to be flat.

 

[FoxyChicken]

pwand- I'm convinced it's an impacted crop. It is hard in the morning. I attempted the tube watering this morning but I could not get her to sit still and open her mouth. I keep reading how easy it is, but that was not my experience this morning! LOL. She would open her mouth for a split second and then thrash her head around, so I just let her drink on her own and massaged her crop really good. It does feel like it's breaking up and I hear gurgling noises in there like maybe something is moving.
IF by chance I do have success getting the tube in, how much water should I put down there?
Thanks!

 

[casportpony]

pwand- I'm convinced it's an impacted crop. It is hard in the morning. I attempted the tube watering this morning but I could not get her to sit still and open her mouth. I keep reading how easy it is, but that was not my experience this morning! LOL. She would open her mouth for a split second and then thrash her head around, so I just let her drink on her own and massaged her crop really good. It does feel like it's breaking up and I hear gurgling noises in there like maybe something is moving.
IF by chance I do have success getting the tube in, how much water should I put down there?
Thanks!

How much water depends on the size of the bird and the size of their impaction. Tubing is easy once you learn how to restrain the bird. Have you tried wrapping her in a towel? I do them in my lap while sitting on something low to the ground. I'm right handed, so I put them on my left thigh with their head to my right, squeeze them between my left arm and body, grab head and extend up with left hand, open beak with right hand, then keep open with left hand, insert tube all the way into the crop and give water slowly. A full sized bird should be able to take at least 60 ml, but you should start with a small amount, massage and repeat unlit you get a feel for it. Make sense?



-Kathy

 

[FoxyChicken]

Got it Kathy, thanks for the info! I'll try again tonight and see how it goes.