SICK!

[Quaicken108]

So on Wednesday I went out and one of my flock members, Schnitzel (don’t ask about the name it was my sisters idea when she was younger). Anyways, when I was out I noticed that she didn’t look so good and that says a lot because she even thinks of herself as old (She’s almost 6). She has runny poo with some bubbles in it and it’s a bit of a yellowish green colour. She’s lost heaps of weight and is now struggling to stand and eat. She drinks a lot and more than she usually would. I’ve separated her and put her with heat today but I’m not sure. Any advice?! So far I treated her for lice and mites yesterday and the on Friday I treated her for worms. I feel it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Hopefully today is the worst. So again, any advice?!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she's not well.
How old is she?
Can you take some photos of Schnitzel and her poop too?

What do you feed her?
Does she lay eggs? If so, when was the last time she laid an egg?
Can you tell us what her crop feels like? Feel of her on the right side of her breast - is the crop empty, soft, hard, full, squishy, doughy, fluid or air filled?

 

[Quaicken108]

Schnitzel is going to be 6 on August 27th and laid her fairy egg last November. I feed her lots of things and might not get everything in this but mainly things like scratch mix, Layer pellets, lettuce, carrot peels and ends, strawberries, tomatoes, Broccoli, watermelon, cucumber, bread, shell grit (for calcium), other fruits and veggies and occasionally cheese and mealworms. Her crop feels a bit squishy or doughy. This is her and her last poo: (her poo usually has a bit more green but luckily there’s NO blood. Also sorry if that’s a bad photo of her poo because it’s on paper towel.

This is her today:

This her her when she’s all good:

Hopefully this helps
Also didn’t mention but she’s quite lethargic.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Schnitzel is going to be 6 on August 27th and laid her fairy egg last November. I feed her lots of things and might not get everything in this but mainly things like scratch mix, Layer pellets, lettuce, carrot peels and ends, strawberries, tomatoes, Broccoli, watermelon, cucumber, bread, shell grit (for calcium), other fruits and veggies and occasionally cheese and mealworms. Her crop feels a bit squishy or doughy. This is her and her last poo: (her poo usually has a bit more green but luckily there’s NO blood. Also sorry if that’s a bad photo of her poo because it’s on paper towel.

This is her today:

This her her when she’s all good:
Hopefully this helps
Also didn’t mention but she’s quite lethargic.

She's not feeling well is she.

If she's not been laying eggs since November, that along with her age and the symptoms you describe, I would suspect that she has a reproductive problem that is sadly causing her to decline.

Hens can suffer from Peritonitis, internal laying, cancer, tumors, etc. these conditions can be common.
The crop not being empty in the morning can be due to whatever else is going on with her.

I would try to make her comfortable and treat the symptoms of the crop issue. Do what you can to keep her hydrated.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Quaicken108]

She's not feeling well is she.

If she's not been laying eggs since November, that along with her age and the symptoms you describe, I would suspect that she has a reproductive problem that is sadly causing her to decline.

Hens can suffer from Peritonitis, internal laying, cancer, tumors, etc. these conditions can be common.
The crop not being empty in the morning can be due to whatever else is going on with her.

I would try to make her comfortable and treat the symptoms of the crop issue. Do what you can to keep her hydrated.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Thanks for this article, I’ve tried some things but she’s not eating, drinking or standing. She’s a bit lopsided so I’ve tried leaning her against the box. Also are you sure about the egg thing because she laid that egg a while ago and that was 1 of 3 that we got from her last year. (1 in January, July than the fairy egg in November). She hasn’t been regularly laying for a while and I think her egg laying organs have already broken down. Plus I was looking at some other articles and lots said surgery but her crop isn’t as big as the ones in those pictures. They also said that an impacted crop (which is what looks more likely) is a problem that is found in spring, here it’s the middle of Winter (I’m in Aus) and is that a more general term or a definitive term? Also any advice for helping her drink, stand and eat? (Eating is not a huge goal because of what she has but I want her to be hydrated and she’s not drinking! Help please?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Plus I was looking at some other articles and lots said surgery but her crop isn’t as big as the ones in those pictures. They also said that an impacted crop (which is what looks more likely) is a problem that is found in spring, here it’s the middle of Winter (I’m in Aus) and is that a more general term or a definitive term?

Also are you sure about the egg thing because she laid that egg a while ago and that was 1 of 3 that we got from her last year. (1 in January, July than the fairy egg in November). She hasn’t been regularly laying for a while and I think her egg laying organs have already broken down

Can you provide a link to that information, it would be an interesting read.

IME, crop issues are not seasonal, I've found that they are usually a symptom of an underlying condition. In my cases, it has been reproductive problems, but worms, coccidiosis and infection are some other common conditions as well. Anything that causes inflammation/disruption in the reproductive organs or digestive system can cause the slowing down of the crop emptying.

A crop could become impacted with matter as well if the bird has been eating a lot of long strands of grass/straw, etc. that they are unable to pass - it's a possibility.

With her age and not laying eggs likely you are correct that her reproductive system has broken down. Sadly, this is common in laying hens and it causes problems - cancer, tumors, Peritonitis, etc as mentioned previously.

Seeking a vet's advice is always a good idea.

As for getting her hydrated, you can syringe or tube fluids into her. If she's got crop issues, then care would be needed that she doesn't aspirate.

I'm very sorry you are dealing with this. I do understand how heartbreaking it can be when a much loved hen is failing and you feel helpless. Sometimes all you can do is offer supportive care, try to get them hydrated and address some of the symptoms that they have. Sometimes a hen is in a state of decline and they also need to be relieved of their suffering.

 

[Quaicken108]

Now she’s always got her head down and whenever I pick her up she breathes in heavily. Is there any respiratory issues that go along with the crop?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Now she’s always got her head down and whenever I pick her up she breathes in heavily. Is there any respiratory issues that go along with the crop?

I'm sorry she's getting worse.
Do you feel any swelling or tightness in her abdomen below the vent between the legs?

 

[Quaicken108]

For Schnitzel,

There are many times where I’ve wept before
You were there to pull me through
There were many times where my smile was wide
You were there smiling too
Although I don’t want to think of tomorrow
I know that you’ve found peace
I’m glad that you’re no longer suffering
I’m glad that your spirit is free
The flowers will grow from the tears that I weap
You will be there looking down on me
Time may pass but this I know
I’ll miss you forever
I’ll love forever
I’ll remember you and the time that we spent together
I will never see you again
And for that I feel incomplete
I want you to know that you’re special
Kind
And always on my mind
I’ll think of today as the day where we parted
But really it’s the day that I have started
To grieve
Mourn
And hope
That a future without you
Is still worth more
More than my suffering and heartache
More than pain and hurt
I hope that I’ll find peace
In the fact that you’re gone
Whenever I now smile
With tears in my eyes
I know and realise
Of the life of you
A life that brought me joy
A life that brought me life
It’s weird that I feel jealous
But you’re at peace
When I’m still in pain and anguish
I pray for better days
Days filled with happiness, not despair
Days where all that is seen is smiles
Days where all that is heard is laughter
Days where all that is smelt is fragrances
Of beautiful and sweet flowers reminding me of you
Reminding me of love
Lots of love, peace and ambivalent emotions of joy and sorrow from your friend, Chris

 

[Wyorp Rock]

For Schnitzel,

There are many times where I’ve wept before
You were there to pull me through
There were many times where my smile was wide
You were there smiling too
Although I don’t want to think of tomorrow
I know that you’ve found peace
I’m glad that you’re no longer suffering
I’m glad that your spirit is free
The flowers will grow from the tears that I weap
You will be there looking down on me
Time may pass but this I know
I’ll miss you forever
I’ll love forever
I’ll remember you and the time that we spent together
I will never see you again
And for that I feel incomplete
I want you to know that you’re special
Kind
And always on my mind
I’ll think of today as the day where we parted
But really it’s the day that I have started
To grieve
Mourn
And hope
That a future without you
Is still worth more
More than my suffering and heartache
More than pain and hurt
I hope that I’ll find peace
In the fact that you’re gone
Whenever I now smile
With tears in my eyes
I know and realise
Of the life of you
A life that brought me joy
A life that brought me life
It’s weird that I feel jealous
But you’re at peace
When I’m still in pain and anguish
I pray for better days
Days filled with happiness, not despair
Days where all that is seen is smiles
Days where all that is heard is laughter
Days where all that is smelt is fragrances
Of beautiful and sweet flowers reminding me of you
Reminding me of love
Lots of love, peace and ambivalent emotions of joy and sorrow from your friend, Chris

Oh, Chris I'm so sorry to hear about Schnitzel.