Sick Bird with Crop Issues

[Disheygirl]

I have a flock of 13. Started with 15, lost one to a predator (my fault) and one to a tumor of some sort (vet confirmed via X-ray, eventually had to put her down, did not do necropsy). Three and a half years of chicken keeping.

All but four are from Meyer, all Mareks V. Other four came from Alchemist, not Mareks V. Happy, healthy girls - other than the tumor absolutely no real issues. They lay normally, eat organic layer feed, have eggshell and grit available. Fly larvae, mealworms, and organic fruits and veggies as treats. Coop is pine shavings, run is construction sand.

On Tues, my favorite girl started sitting down when let out in a grass area I have for them. Typically she’s the first one to snack. I went to her and she popped up and acted like a chicken again. Then yesterday she was hanging out in the coop - not like her at all. Her crop looked big so I brought her inside to monitor. Next morning, crop was still big and her comb was starting to fall. I had an appt at the exotic vet for one of my rabbits so I got her in too.

They said she was a 2 on the body score index - her keel did feel skinny when I picked her up on Wed eve but she is a VERY flighty bird and I don’t pick her up often. Again - acting totally normal until Tuesday, including her voracious appetite (I know they hide things well but jeez). They did X-rays and said they saw some very sharp looking material in her crop that they’re guessing is metal or bone. She doesn’t have access to eat metal or bone; their space is limited to a coop, run, and a fenced grass and dirt area that I clean daily (poop) - plus, no metal and bone machines are dropping pieces from the sky. Unless she ate a mouse…?

Then she said that Mareks can cause this type of crop disfunction. And cause tumors (like the other bird - same breed, same hatchery, a year apart, died from).

She said surgery was the best course of action to remove the sharp things - $1800-$3400 (after the current $800 bill I paid) that I don’t have. Asked for second best, which is to flush the crop and send her home with some meds to see if it clears her up so that’s what I opted. If she doesn’t make it, I am going to have her necropsied.

Has anyone had this type of situation in part or in whole? It just seems so weird. Sharp objects in her body, low body score, crop disfunction…any of it?

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is your hen? Do you have granite poultry grit for her gizzard function available in a separate container from feed? Crop disorders can be common in hens over 2-3 years old, especially if they have a reproductive disorder, eat something that cannot break down, worms or cancer. Does she lay eggs? Can you check her crop every morning before she has access to food or water? It should be empty and flat then. What does it feel like now? Is it full and firm, doughy, or squishy? Do you have any pictures of her? Chickens can swallow metal, glass, plastic that has pushed up through the soil. Things like metal staples, screws, or nail heads are common things that might pop out around a coop or barn. Could you get the vet to email a copy of the xray to post here? I might give her some chilled coconut oil to peck at, about 1-2 tsp, and most chickens will eat that. That can help lube things. Tell us if her crop is hard or soft. Has she been wormed recently? Worms can sometime affect the crop, gizzard, and intestines.

 

[Disheygirl]

How old is your hen? Do you have granite poultry grit for her gizzard function available in a separate container from feed? Crop disorders can be common in hens over 2-3 years old, especially if they have a reproductive disorder, eat something that cannot break down, worms or cancer. Does she lay eggs? Can you check her crop every morning before she has access to food or water? It should be empty and flat then. What does it feel like now? Is it full and firm, doughy, or squishy? Do you have any pictures of her? Chickens can swallow metal, glass, plastic that has pushed up through the soil. Things like metal staples, screws, or nail heads are common things that might pop out around a coop or barn. Could you get the vet to email a copy of the xray to post here? I might give her some chilled coconut oil to peck at, about 1-2 tsp, and most chickens will eat that. That can help lube things. Tell us if her crop is hard or soft. Has she been wormed recently? Worms can sometime affect the crop, gizzard, and intestines.

She is about three. Yes to grit, yes to eggs (always normal). It was big and squishy this AM - they did a crop flush to get a lot out and it was foul smelling liquid. Still kind of squishy but smaller.

I’ll get a copy of the X-rays - they’re supposed to be sending them via email this evening.

They gave me amoxicillin, Meloxicam, and sucralfate.

They did not tell me to do anything for the likely sour crop and didn’t ask me about worming.

Should I also give her some Monistat (I have the suppositories and can give her a small piece)?

I also have safeguard - should I worm her?

I don’t want to give her too much medication but at the same time the vet (who is an avian and exotic) isn’t sure what exactly is going on.

 

[Disheygirl]

This is her - she’s in indoor chicken jail while we try to figure this out. The vet said if she starts to feel better she can go back outside with her flock.

 

[Eggcessive]

An antifungal would be good, either miconazole/monistat or nystatin/Medistatin twice a day would help with sour crop. Keep her familiar with her other chickens by letting her have supervised visits once or twice a day. Separating her for more than a few days can be hard for reintegrating without getting picked on. So keep them familiar. Keep water available all day, and feed some egg and plain yogurt with cultures today. Then add a small amount of chicken feed with a lot of water tomorrow if her crop seems less full. Here is a good article about crop problems to follow:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/