Sick chicken, digestive problems? $800 vet bill, what can I do at home

[BaaKaaawk]

One of the sad parts of being a chicken owner is of course our chickens die. Sometimes the best thing we can do for the chicken is give it a painless, merciful send off to chicken heaven and thank it for the joy it gave us while here on Earth.

I'm disappointed in that vet bill too (before the x-ray) as that almost seems like predatory veterinarian practice for a chicken. $360 can buy literally, 72 day-old chicks. That was unfair of your vet in my opinion and I would not go back there. They should have told you the truth up front which is there is very, very few things they can do for your bird.

Again, I'm sorry- but helping your chicken pass with dignity is likely your best bet.

 

[casportpony]

He asked when I last worked my chickens and I said 6 months ago. He tested the poo for signs of intestinal parasites and the results came back all clear

Oh, okay, looks like he didn't charge you for that. What de-wormer did you use 6 months ago?

 

[aart]

I have just included a photo of the injections and such for you I’m not even sure what they mean, I’ll have to google.

I didn't know, but was sure someone who did would translate...as @casportpony did

 

[Courtney Jane]

Oh, okay, looks like he didn't charge you for that. What de-wormer did you use 6 months ago?

Good! He already charged me an arm and a leg! Haha de wormer was kilverm

 

[Courtney Jane]

One of the sad parts of being a chicken owner is of course our chickens die. Sometimes the best thing we can do for the chicken is give it a painless, merciful send off to chicken heaven and thank it for the joy it gave us while here on Earth.

I'm disappointed in that vet bill too (before the x-ray) as that almost seems like predatory veterinarian practice for a chicken. $360 can buy literally, 72 day-old chicks. That was unfair of your vet in my opinion and I would not go back there. They should have told you the truth up front which is there is very, very few things they can do for your bird.

Again, I'm sorry- but helping your chicken pass with dignity is likely your best bet.

I know but I was really hoping she’d last longer than a year she’s my favourite too, bottom of the pecking order.
I am pretty pissed about the vet, I would love to take her for the x rays but just can’t justify it. Why are vets so darn expensive?!?!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like you have her separated. I would withhold food for the day, no need to add to the crop contents if they are not moving.
She does need plenty of water though, so make that available and encourage her to stay hydrated. .

All good suggestions so far. I would definitely read the 2 articles about crop issues. Often there is an underlying condition that is going on as well. Reproductive problems (does she have any swelling or fluid in the abdomen?), worms and Coccidiosis are a few common problems that accompany crop issues.

 

[Courtney Jane]

She’s also drinking a heap of water, is that a good or bad sign?

 

[Eggcessive]

When she went broody a couple of weeks ago, did she pull out her chest and belly feathers when she was sitting? Some of my hens who have gone broody will have a fuller puffy but soft crop. They also stop laying for a couple of weeks after being broken. The meds all look good—clavamox, a good antibiotic, meloxicam for inflammation and pain, and reglan injection for slow to empty digestive tract. I would not massage the puffy crop, since that can cause her to regurgitate her crop contents. I think @casportpony can help you, so glad that she is here. She seems awfully young to be having problems, unless maybe she is starting to molt. Molting is really hard on them. Do you motice any messy feathers?

 

[Courtney Jane]

Looks like you have her separated. I would withhold food for the day, no need to add to the crop contents if they are not moving.
She does need plenty of water though, so make that available and encourage her to stay hydrated. .

All good suggestions so far. I would definitely read the 2 articles about crop issues. Often there is an underlying condition that is going on as well. Reproductive problems (does she have any swelling or fluid in the abdomen?), worms and Coccidiosis are a few common problems that accompany crop issues.

I read the articles but am still unsure of weather it’s impacted or sour. I can’t smell anything but it is quite mushy. Deffs not hard.
It’s not worms and she had coccidiosis as a 9 week old so it can’t be that.

I with held food all day but when I gave her the yogurt to try and help, she went nuts like she was starving so I caved and gave her a little snack of egg :/ crop is slightly larger now, it’s almost 10pm here so I will leave no food for her over night and feel again in the morning. At least this way I’ll know if it’s digesting anything at ALL.

Not sure about fluids or swelling in abdomin? Not that I can feel

 

[casportpony]

I read the articles but am still unsure of weather it’s impacted or sour. I can’t smell anything but it is quite mushy. Deffs not hard.

It might not be either, it might might just be slow to empty, which is very common in sick birds.