possible impacted crop

[trameghan]

Ihave a 9 month olf speckled sussex hen who is just not acting right. I noticed 2 days ago and I've been keeping an eye on her. She just stands off by herself and doesn't act normal. She seems to eat and drink anf I've checked her for injuries and found nothing. She's not sick or sneezing. None of my others are acting this way. Yesterday her crop felt big but squishy and today it is big but full of food. She ate a little egg for me at treat time. It's getting cold here so if i isolate her i need to bring her inside. What should my next step be? I thought about waiting until i get home tonight at midnight and checking the crop then but i worry about putting anything off. Would using olive oil and massaging the crop hurt if it turns out to be something else? Please help.

 

[casportpony]

If she were mine I would bring her inside and put her in a warm room (80-85 degrees). Once warm I would slowly tube warmed fluids at 15ml per pound, wait 90 minutes and repeat if fluids were clearing her crop. Once hydrated, I would worm for capillary worms with Safeguard at 0.23 ml per pound for five days.

Many things can cause crop stasis... Problem is figuring out what it is. To date, I have had many slow crops like you have describe and have not used oil... Tubing water has always cleared the crops here.

I can teach you to tube if you can get the supplies and get her inside where it's warm.

-Kathy

 

[trameghan]

I have moved her into the warmest room in the house and she's in a large cat carrier. I gave her about 1ml olive oil and madsaged her crop as soon as i brought her in. Not long after she had a watery yellowish poo. What supplies to i need to tube? I work second shift so im leavin soon but i can do it tomorrow morning.

 

[casportpony]

I have moved her into the warmest room in the house and she's in a large cat carrier. I gave her about 1ml olive oil and madsaged her crop as soon as i brought her in. Not long after she had a watery yellowish poo. What supplies to i need to tube? I work second shift so im leavin soon but i can do it tomorrow morning.

You need a size 18 French or larger catheter and 35ml or 60ml syringe. If you can't find the catheter (some feed stores carry them in "lamb saver" kits, all vets have them and some medical store do as well), you can use a piece of aquarium air line, but you have the melt the end to make it smooth or it could damage her esophagus.

Tractor supply, vets and medical supply stores will also have the large syringes. I will PM you my number and walk you through the procedure on the phone or here, whatever is easiest for you.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Lots of tubing info, videos and pictures here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding

-Kathy

 

[trameghan]

She is no better this morning and I'm willing to try anything at this point. I'm afraid to try to get her to vomit. How does forcing all that liquid help?

 

[casportpony]

She is no better this morning and I'm willing to try anything at this point. I'm afraid to try to get her to vomit. How does forcing all that liquid help?

I'm also afraid to vomit them, so you're not alone. The fluid helps get the intestines working again, just like it does with people. Were you able to get a tube and syringe?

-Kathy

 

[trameghan]

Not yet. I'm getting ready to head to tractor supply now. I need other stuff too and hopefully they have what i need. I already have the 60cc syringe. I checked her for a bound egg last night and didn't find anything and she had a watery green poop as i was checking. Her crop is just as full today as yesterday. I'm going to give her more water and another massage before i leave the house.

 

[casportpony]

Forgot to ask... what does her poop look like?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Not yet. I'm getting ready to head to tractor supply now. I need other stuff too and hopefully they have what i need. I already have the 60cc syringe. I checked her for a bound egg last night and didn't find anything and she had a watery green poop as i was checking. Her crop is just as full today as yesterday. I'm going to give her more water and another massage before i leave the house.

It's quite possible that she has an obstruction somewhere between her crop and her vent.

-Kathy