Something stuck in her throat??? Please help!!!

[dancesWchickens]

She gapes on and off, some days more than others. Still not pecking so forcefully as her sisters, but at least she's eating and drinking now, and gaining some of her weight back. Thanks for the vet info and the crossed fingers btw!!

 

[Chicken Woman]

I don't think I would go for xray and surgery as chickens don't do well with anesthesia.

Glad to hear she is doing a little better. You moght want to feed her some chick starter as it has alot of protien and vitamins. Have you tried outting electrolyts in her water ?

 

[Patch of Heaven Farm]

I hope she gets better!!

 

[perched]

I'm really glad I read this thread. I hope I remember everything if I ever end up with a chicken showing the same symtoms. I will say a prayer for your girl tonight. Glad to hear she's getting better.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
Yes, that's the name I was trying to remember. I know he's helped quite a few people from BYC.

Well, if she's eating any of those plants and the other girls are eating the same one without effect, that would seem less likely. Although, if she ate something stringy that is somehow stuck in there, that could make her gape. I recall a story and photos from quite a long time ago on this site or the old BYC (a couple of years?) where a girl had a stringy piece of grass that caused a lot of problems. Chances are that the Vet would have caught something like that, but you never know.

With all the succulents, could she have a thorn down there? If so, that would certainly make her not peck quite as forcefully as the others.

 

[pips&peeps]

I have not read the whole thread but wanted to ask if you had given her ivermectin for gape worms yet?

If not you can get injectible ivermectin at the feed store and put 1.5 cc in a gallon of water for 24 hours then remove.

I did see the picture and she looks healthy.

Soapy water will help pass anything stuck in the intestinal tract. You will have to tube that though.

Also has anyone suggested ACV in the water or oxine to clear up any bacteria in the crop?

 

[dancesWchickens]

Something stringy or thorny...now that's a possibility! There are stringy and thorny plants in my yard. I flushed out her crop pretty well with a lot of warm salt water and nothing but mucus came out, but maybe I should try it again. I guess if there's a thorn stuck deep in her crop, her immune system would kick in and eventually pop it out?

pips&peeps thanks for the info. The vet did several tests on two samples of her poo (one fresh, one old) and found no evidence of worms in it (zero eggs) or in her crop (no worms). I was pretty surprised as my flock free ranges in my backyard, but that info alone was worth the price I think. I hate to worm her unless I know she has worms...she's not feeling well already and ivermectin is strong stuff. She did have an overgrowth of bacteria in her crop though, so the vet pur her on a course of Bactrin. I would say the antibiotics didn't make much (if any) difference in the end. [I think] the thing that helped the most so far was filling her crop with warm water (with a little salt and sugar in it) - she really seemed to like that, and the next day she had perked up considerably. She still seems to be getting a bit better every day (crossed fingers). If I tube her again, I'll try the soapy water...would you tell me how much of what kind of soap in how much water? Does soap have any negative effects on chicken digestion?

 

[perched]

Boy, a thorn....that would make sense. I read this whole thread and never thought of that. Hmmm.... If it was a thorn, I wonder if her body would form scar tissue or something over it eventually if it doesn't pass. Would it show up in an x-ray? Just thinking out loud....

 

[pips&peeps]

Soapy water will clean her out...

I don't know if you can test for gape worms, did the vet check her larynyx? From what I understand that is where they live, not in the crop or intestines.

I would recommend getting oxine for her water. It will kill any bad bacteria in her crop.

 

[dancesWchickens]

Yes, vet checked larynx for gapeworm. She's not and has not been wheezing or having difficulty breathing, which are signs of gapeworm I think. I'll try to find oxine. Thanks!