Poop Help For Diagnosis

[kjorgey]

This is a follow up post to an issue with my 3 yr old hen. Yesterday her crop felt boggy. I massaged it several times. She regurgitated beet peelings water and a small string. She had 24 hours of just electrolyte water. I continued to massage her crop periodically thru the day. Just offered small amount of feed mixed with electrolytes into a mush. She was hungry. Poops today have been clear liquid and grainy black debris no worms or eggs noted. Thoughts on the poop? My hen otherwise appears normal. Active, drinking and alert.

 

[Peaches Lee]

String? Goodness the things they get into! I hope she's doing better! Maybe irregular poops because she's not had her normal diet.

How is she today?

 

[kjorgey]

Fecal test came back negative today. She is doing well. She passed a stool 2 days ago that included stones, so gizzard is working. Appetite is not great, but then again its been stressful. I never treated for sour crop other than giving a little yogurt and 1 tsp of applecider vinegar in 16 oz of water (recommend by vet). Crop has been empty each morning. I attempted to put her back with the other 4 hens and as soon as she went for the food, they ambushed her. I didn't think 4 days away would be an issue, but it certainly was. I'm fixing up a smaller pen to isolate her in it next to the chicken run, to help with acclimation. So, today....I operated a chicken clinic which took up most of my day. I brought all 5 hens in for a head to tow inspection. For the most part, all look great, with the exception of an early scaly spider mite infection on their feet. Every girl got a 10 minute soak and scrub of their feet. I sprayed each with Manna Pro Poultry protector (as I had that on hand) and smothered their feet in petroleum jelly. I also identified bumble foot on 3 of the 5 hens. Tomorrow, I will repeat their soaks in Epsom salt solution until the necrotic scab comes off. Will treat with neosporin, duoderm gel and vet bandage. I'm a nurse practitioner and feel this will work better than surgical removal.

 

[kjorgey]

String? Goodness the things they get into! I hope she's doing better! Maybe irregular poops because she's not had her normal diet.

How is she today?

Blondie expired today. She kept drinking and this morning, crop was really full. I had a vet appointment at 10 am. As I picked her up to take her, she looked at me, vomited and seized and was gone. I took her remains to the University of Penn Vet Poultry Division who did a necropsy for the Pa. Dept of Agriculture. As this was the 2nd hen to die in 2 weeks, I was concerned about Avian Influenza. Within 2 hours, $58 I had a TON of info on cause of death. Blondie had only one kidney. She also had gout. She died of renal failure, but had fatty liver deposits. The pathologist, who is also a chicken keeper was so helpful and knowledgeable. I'm waiting on a few other tests and cancer evaluations, but for now I learned a lot form her. Had I given my hen applecider vinegar, Monistat and all the other off label treatments people recommended, she would have died sooner, because they would have killed her for certain in her state. She died peacefully from natural causes and I have a diagnosis. Avian flue rapid test among other infectious causes were ruled out. I'm going to write a case study article on Blondie as there are many things I learned in this process from the professionals that I think needs sharing.

 

[Peaches Lee]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss!

Poor sweet girl! The necropsy results are quite amazing. Only one kidney? Incredible that she made it to 3 years old! You have done a great job with her.

And I agree, sharing your journey through this would be very educational.