Special sour crop situation

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Hi @azygous - so I think we may be making grounds on the sour crop finally. The squishy bubble was flat yesterday morning and even went to nibble on her feed for the first time in a week. By end of the day she was in the nest box trying to do something. Standing most of the evening seeming crouched. I thought for sure the calcium was regimen was going to produce. At bed time I went to do the evening dosing of the Baytril, calcium and cream. Did try to check for an egg but nothing. Today she’s hunched and fluffed standing in weird places. Not totally abnormal really for her since becoming ill but over an hour facing the wall in the coop doorway seems off for the crop progress. She’s now in a nest box after dark. She’s obviously straining based on her standing positioning. Just thought I’d check in to see if there were any additional steps you(or anyone for that matter) might consider taking. No pressure.
 
Thought I’d update: Still no egg being laid based on how she was acting Wed/Thurs. Abdomen still firm. Hasn’t stood in the nest box since Thursday. Gave calcium citrate with D3 three times a day Tues/Wed. Then morning and night Thursday/Friday and continuing. I’m starting to wonder if there is an absorption/uptake problem of the calcium? She hasn’t changed much in terms of her overall condition. Hunched and puffed. She’s been on Baytril .25 cc twice a day since Sat 3/19. Monistat cream three times a day consistently since Tuesday- definite improvement in her crop issue. Along with the calcium. Only really eats worms she finds in the yard. Pecks a bit at the food in the dish after I let her go from her dosing but doesn’t last long. I keep her and her sister in a crate in the coop at night to easily catch for dosing in the mornings. I have been intermittently giving a combo of rooster booster and nutridrench. I have seen her drink plan water a time or two on her own. However, I have also syringed some probiotic water into her mouth just to make sure she’s getting some hydration.

I know I’m exhausting most options. I will follow up with the vet that gave me the meds next week. Hes not an avian vet but was willing to give me the antibiotics. He didn’t have a lot of input on next steps. Just simply said- this is all we can do and see what happens. So that is when I came here and received what seemed like the BEST support. Thank you azygous!

If anyone has additional insight- I’m all ears!
 
The calcium citrate is the most easily and most quickly absorbed, so that's not the problem.

The problem could be that her obstruction isn't one that can be moved out, such as a tumor.

Keep it up, and let's just hope something blasts loose soon.
 
Thank you @azygous. Starting to think maybe she’s impacted by constipation. A week of calcium isn’t making a difference. She’s spent this whole week in an egg bound stance with no improvement. Minimally eating. Hit or miss on how long she remains interested in food. Lost a gross amount of weight. Her breastbone area is so concave so it’s feeling more and more grave. I’m going to give treating her for constipation a go but I’m starting to feel more and more irresponsible with her quality of life. Last night I did a quick vent check and part of me thought maybe I saw a bound up mess of poop in there but it was so late that my eyes weren’t wanting to work well. I’m tired of stressing her out more. Maybe whatever was impacted in the crop has been struggling to make its way all the way through(especially with her emaciated state). Her poop stinks in more of a fermentation way. Gave her a 10 ml dose of epsom salt water last night for laxative effect until I could get my hands on some molasses this morning. I’m unsure of which method could be most effective for helping with the constipation.

If anyone has a preferred method to help a very sick chicken potentially suffering from constipation…. Share your thoughts. Thank you!
 
Either flush will work. Molasses is easier to get the patient to drink it, but either can be giving by tubing directly into the crop. The three-day Epsom salt flush is the most effective since you're flushing for three straight days, twice each day. I use this when I'm desperate.

My experience with the three-day flush is that chickens tolerate it very well, not in the least uncomfortable from it. Instead, they've appeared energized after treatments.

But constipation may not be the problem in your hen's case. If the flushing fails to improve her condition, EYP should be considered. It produces the most foul smelling runny poop, often with little yellow bits in it. And, no, antibiotics at this stage of infection are almost always useless.
 
As always- thank you @azygous! It’s feeling grim. Appreciate the extra insight. She blew out a dark black wet stool as I was walking in his morning. Upon inspection of the vent to re-evaluate the stuck poop- there was some bright red blood. So I’m not so sure we have a chance. I’m going to go through it never the less today. I will update in the next few days on where we’ve landed. Thank you again so much for all you’ve shared. I’ve learned a lot in this time that will only support my other girls in the future. You’re a great asset to this community 😊
 

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