Sick Chicken - Possible Crop Issue - Please Help!

[gilbertchix]

Hi All! First time poster here....

I've noticed my chicken looking really sick lately and was wondering if anyone has any thoughts (pictures below). She's just standing around hunched over and closing her eyes often. She definitely has a swollen crop, and it feels kind of mushy, not super hard. Her poop is very runny/watery and is a milky white color.

I brought her in for a couple of nights and have been giving her water and scrambled eggs and treated her with Corid. I've also treated her with pyrmethrin over the past few weeks to eliminate any mite issues.

On another note, I feel like my chickens get sick quite often (one seems to die without me knowing the cause 1-2X per year). I've treated for mites and have used tons of supplements, cleaned water regularly, dust baths, etc. I do live in a wet area, do you think that could be the issue? It just seems like they're still getting sick no matter what I do.

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[cherrynberry]

Is she a new layer?

 

[cherrynberry]

Also, you may want to check if she is egg bound...how long has she been like this?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's just standing around hunched over and closing her eyes often. She definitely has a swollen crop, and it feels kind of mushy, not super hard. Her poop is very runny/watery and is a milky white color.

I feel like my chickens get sick quite often (one seems to die without me knowing the cause 1-2X per year). I've treated for mites and have used tons of supplements, cleaned water regularly, dust baths, etc. I do live in a wet area, do you think that could be the issue? It just seems like they're still getting sick no matter what I do.

Welcome To BYC!

I'm sorry about your hen.
How old is she?
When's the last time she laid an egg?

I would feel her abdomen for bloat or feeling of fluid. If possible, get a fecal float to see if worms are contributing to her decline.
I would also go ahead and start treating her crop problem. Do keep in mind that crop problems are often a symptom of an underlying condition - reproductive disorders, worms, coccidiosis and infection are a few. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Sadly, with laying hens, it's not uncommon to lose 1 or 2 a year. They are not that long lived and reproductive issues are a common cause of decline. A necropsy -either through your State Lab or doing one yourself at home can sometimes give you information about the cause of decline and death.

 

[gilbertchix]

Is she a new layer?

She's about a year old, and I think she was laying fine.

 

[gilbertchix]

Also, you may want to check if she is egg bound...how long has she been like this?

She's been sick looking on and off for a few weeks now. I thought it was mites, so I dusted her and sprayed her with permethrin. She seemed to get better and perk up every time I did that, but this is the worst I've seen her and she's been like this for about 2 days. I do know that when she runs, it looked like her crop was swinging more than normal, that's why now I was thinking the crop issue.

Is there a good way to check for egg binding? I felt her belly area this morning and she seems so skinny, I don't know how to tell.

 

[gilbertchix]

Welcome To BYC!

I'm sorry about your hen.
How old is she?
When's the last time she laid an egg?

I would feel her abdomen for bloat or feeling of fluid. If possible, get a fecal float to see if worms are contributing to her decline.
I would also go ahead and start treating her crop problem. Do keep in mind that crop problems are often a symptom of an underlying condition - reproductive disorders, worms, coccidiosis and infection are a few. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Sadly, with laying hens, it's not uncommon to lose 1 or 2 a year. They are not that long lived and reproductive issues are a common cause of decline. A necropsy -either through your State Lab or doing one yourself at home can sometimes give you information about the cause of decline and death.

Thank you for your reply! She's about a year old, and I thought she was laying fine, but I don't really monitor how often they do since I have a lot of chickens. So she might not have been laying now that you mention it...

Her abdomen feels really skinny and bony, I don't really notice anything there.

Oh, okay, that makes me feel a little bit better! I was wondering if it was just my chickens that get sick like this. I just figured that at 1-3 years old I wouldn't have so many illness issues. I will have to try the necropsy, that might give me some clarity that I feel I need.

Thank you!!

 

[cherrynberry]

She's been sick looking on and off for a few weeks now. I thought it was mites, so I dusted her and sprayed her with permethrin. She seemed to get better and perk up every time I did that, but this is the worst I've seen her and she's been like this for about 2 days. I do know that when she runs, it looked like her crop was swinging more than normal, that's why now I was thinking the crop issue.

Is there a good way to check for egg binding? I felt her belly area this morning and she seems so skinny, I don't know how to tell.

You check if there is an egg in the chickens vent. Gross, but worth it, your chicken can die from this...but if she poops I suppose its fine. But it does not hurt to try

 

[Aapomp831]

This sounds like a crop issue. Withhold food and water overnight and check the crop in the morning. The crop empties overnight; so if it’s still mushy and full in the am then you have an impacted crop.