Sick chicken...

[RR Chick]

Hi there, One of our Asa Browns is suddenly acting sickly. She is near the water station and is walking very slowly but no limping and her comb has shrunk and is kind of dark red, which it was just pink and large. Her vent area is pasty, I can see some wood shavings stuck to her.. I haven't tried to pick her up. I didn't want to stress her out...She doesn't want to eat she is mostly staying in one spot. We have 5 chickens, no Roosters. She is about 21/2 years old. We are getting about 2 eggs per day but 2 of our girls are 31/2 years old. Her feathers look real pretty, but she is holding herself like she doesn't feel well. What should I do?

Thanks for your help.
Charlotte

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I suggest checking for crop function to see if it's impacted or possibly sour as well as parasites like mites or lice near the messy vent.

When you do pick her up feel if the crop is full and hard or squishy. Check her crop again in the morning BEFORE she has eaten or drank and see if it has emptied or is flat.

Do you know when her last egg was? Are you able to post a pic?

Sorry she isn't well!

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your sick hen. Can you also feel between her legs and check if the lower abdomen is enlarged, spongy, hard, or tight feeling? Some hens may stop laying eggs or lay sporadically, and suffer from internal laying or even oviduct cancer. Does she feel heavy or overweight, or has she lost weight and feel boney in her breast area? What do her poops looks like? Pictures are welcome.

 

[RR Chick]

Thank you for the help. I don't see any parasites around the vent area...but her crop is squishy and kind of swollen...(larger than the other girls) and when we were pressing it a little she spit up a rusty color translucent liquid, (maybe 1/2 teaspoon) but no smell. She isn't eating but is drinking. She is walking slowly. I'll check her in the morning before she eats... Thanks!

 

[RR Chick]

Here are some pix. What does a squishy crop mean?
Thanks
Charlotte

 

[RR Chick]

Here are some pix. What does a squishy crop mean?
Thanks
Charlotte

Sorry about your sick hen. Can you also feel between her legs and check if the lower abdomen is enlarged, spongy, hard, or tight feeling? Some hens may stop laying eggs or lay sporadically, and suffer from internal laying or even oviduct cancer. Does she feel heavy or overweight, or has she lost weight and feel boney in her breast area? What do her poops looks like? Pictures are welcome.

 

[RR Chick]

Thanks, So I don't feel any masses between her legs. She feels light for her size. She sure does vomit water it I massage the crop and tilt her down. How much should I do that? Once a day or more...? She is not laying. I don't know if she has pooped. I don't think so. So I'm trying the cinnamon, chile pepper, baking soda, ginger mix people talk about. The liquid does smell sour. So what do you folks suggest for sour crop? I think this was the second day of this. I gave her some plain yogurt also. She ate it and some tomatoe and a little chicken food...today. And is drinking water. But she vomits a lot of water...or gray looking water...maybe from the yogurt...

 

[Eggcessive]

I would stop trying to empty her crop, and stop all of the extra spices and herbs. Is her crop ever empty first thing in the morning before she eats? What are you feeding her? I would give her water with electrolytes in it, or plain water and 2 ml a day of Poultry NutriDrench. She does sound like she is suffering from sour crop, and that will be one reason that she may be losing weight. Since her comb has lost color, and she is not laying, I am suspecting that she has something going on with her reproductive organs that may be leading to her crop problems. Sometimes we never figure out the problem until we do a necropsy after death, unfortunately. Frequently we can treat the crop disorder, but that does not keep it from coming back because of the underlying problem that prevents the crop from emptying.

I would stop any whole grains, and feed her mushy chicken feed with lots of water. Give her a tespoonful of plain yogurt or probiotics daily. Massage her crop upward a little, but be careful not to cause her to vomit. If you can get some antifungal such as Nystatin (Medistatin powder on line can be bought without a prescription,) or use monistat 7 cream orally. A small amount of refrigerated solid coconut oil in small pieces that you can feed to her may help—1 tsp is plenty.

Here is some reading about crop disorders:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/

 

[RR Chick]

I would stop trying to empty her crop, and stop all of the extra spices and herbs. Is her crop ever empty first thing in the morning before she eats? What are you feeding her? I would give her water with electrolytes in it, or plain water and 2 ml a day of Poultry NutriDrench. She does sound like she is suffering from sour crop, and that will be one reason that she may be losing weight. Since her comb has lost color, and she is not laying, I am suspecting that she has something going on with her reproductive organs that may be leading to her crop problems. Sometimes we never figure out the problem until we do a necropsy after death, unfortunately. Frequently we can treat the crop disorder, but that does not keep it from coming back because of the underlying problem that prevents the crop from emptying.

I would stop any whole grains, and feed her mushy chicken feed with lots of water. Give her a tespoonful of plain yogurt or probiotics daily. Massage her crop upward a little, but be careful not to cause her to vomit. If you can get some antifungal such as Nystatin (Medistatin powder on line can be bought without a prescription,) or use monistat 7 cream orally. A small amount of refrigerated solid coconut oil in small pieces that you can feed to her may help—1 tsp is plenty.

Here is some reading about crop disorders:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/

Thank you very much for your help. Our hen is feeling much better now. I did as you said, she woke up moving much better and she has been eating and her comb is looking better and fuller. Thanks!