Second chicken has become lethargic

[Lacabranegra]

Hello,
A lifetime of raising chickens and I’ve never had so many issues!
My mom’s chicken became lethargic and had her tail down. She had no signs of being egg bound. We separated her and gave her electrolytes and protein. She sadly died. Now two days later another chicken is starting to have the same behavior. She does have some poop on her butt and I’ll be doing an Epsom salt bath but what is going on?? Is it something contagious? I saw a large rat in the coop the other night. Could they be being bitten?

 

[Lacabranegra]

Also all (now four) have decreased egg production lately.

 

[RLAChristian]

Hi, I am having the same issue. Did you find out what it was? I did exactly the same things you did.

 

[Lacabranegra]

I did. She has sour crop. Never in 40 years have I had a chicken get that. Her crop was big and watery. I watched this guy’s video

You have to have patience! If your girl has sour crop do it just like him. Then I gave her a tiny bowl of just a little plain yogurt. I did the same treatment the next day because she still had a little left. Then I rolled her food up in coconut oil and medistatin for the gleet for a week, also oyster shells. I did on day two and four give her an Epsom salt soak because her belly felt bloated too and she had died poop on her butt. On the fourth day she had a giant piece of grass (the culprit) hanging out her butt. I gently touched that until she pooped it out in the water. I had also put coconut oil on her butt. Everything may have been overkill but she completely revived.
Oh and I gave her, several times a day for the first few days when she was clearly down (but after emptying her crop), pedialite out of a baggie with a tiny whole bitten out. Definitely do that so they don’t die of dehydration. A few days in she was eating her food/meds happily.

This happens a lot in spring apparently when they gobble down grass. I hope your hen is okay.

Hi, I am having the same issue. Did you find out what it was? I did exactly the same things you di

Hi, I am having the same issue. Did you find out what it was? I did exactly the same things you did.

 

[Lacabranegra]

I should also mention I did this in my brooder cage in the shop, away from the flock.

 

[RLAChristian]

I did. She has sour crop. Never in 40 years have I had a chicken get that. Her crop was big and watery. I watched this guy’s video

You have to have patience! If your girl has sour crop do it just like him. Then I gave her a tiny bowl of just a little plain yogurt. I did the same treatment the next day because she still had a little left. Then I rolled her food up in coconut oil and medistatin for the gleet for a week, also oyster shells. I did on day two and four give her an Epsom salt soak because her belly felt bloated too and she had died poop on her butt. On the fourth day she had a giant piece of grass (the culprit) hanging out her butt. I gently touched that until she pooped it out in the water. I had also put coconut oil on her butt. Everything may have been overkill but she completely revived.
Oh and I gave her, several times a day for the first few days when she was clearly down (but after emptying her crop), pedialite out of a baggie with a tiny whole bitten out. Definitely do that so they don’t die of dehydration. A few days in she was eating her food/meds happily.

This happens a lot in spring apparently when they gobble down grass. I hope your hen is okay.

Hi, I am having the same issue. Did you find out what it was? I did exactly the same things you did truly appreciate y

I did. She has sour crop. Never in 40 years have I had a chicken get that. Her crop was big and watery. I watched this guy’s video

You have to have patience! If your girl has sour crop do it just like him. Then I gave her a tiny bowl of just a little plain yogurt. I did the same treatment the next day because she still had a little left. Then I rolled her food up in coconut oil and medistatin for the gleet for a week, also oyster shells. I did on day two and four give her an Epsom salt soak because her belly felt bloated too and she had died poop on her butt. On the fourth day she had a giant piece of grass (the culprit) hanging out her butt. I gently touched that until she pooped it out in the water. I had also put coconut oil on her butt. Everything may have been overkill but she completely revived.
Oh and I gave her, several times a day for the first few days when she was clearly down (but after emptying her crop), pedialite out of a baggie with a tiny whole bitten out. Definitely do that so they don’t die of dehydration. A few days in she was eating her food/meds happily.

This happens a lot in spring apparently when they gobble down grass. I hope your hen is okay.

Hi, I am having the same issue. Did you find out what it was? I did exactly the same things you di

I truly appreciate you taking the time to break it down for me. I as well prefer the overkill. Thankfully she is doing much better. Today is the 2nd hen that gets sick, 8 days apart. I'm going to definitely research what causes the sour crop and how to prevent it. Once again thank you and God bless!