Starving chicken: a true mystery

[staceyj]

She sure looks like a character to be reckoned with. Does she get along with that canine dude? What a pair!

I have been thinking about her all afternoon, and after you described some of her food preferences, I'm beginning to wonder if she has a condition called pendulous crop, especially after seeing photos of her in profile.

This is a condition where the crop isn't supported adequately by the chest muscles, and that causes it not to properly empty each night. In fact, it may not empty completely by morning, and this could cause her to feel "full" and not have an appetite.

Years ago, when I had only had chickens for just a few years, I had an EE who was getting skinnier and skinnier. This was in spite of her always seeming to have a full crop. In fact, it was often so full, it swung down low like heavy baggage.

I was clueless. That precious hen had pendulous crop and I had never even heard of it. She finally got so weak, she could barely walk. I had to euthanize her. If I had only known that I could make her a crop bra to support her heavy crop, it would have emptied as it should, and she could have led a normal life.

I realize your vet has ruled out crop issues, but please do a crop check tonight, and again in the morning before you offer her anything to eat. If her crop is still full, then we will know that this quite possibly could be the reason why she's losing weight. Her food simply isn't being digested and she isn't absorbing the amount of nutrients she needs to maintain weight.

Excellent suggestion!

 

[lissalischicks]

I've actually been reading your thread and have been following along since the symptoms seem so similar! I haven't tried NurtiDrench but I'm def grabbing some to have on hand. So glad to hear it's been working for Pepper (right?).

I know for a second felt like I was reading my issue in your thread! Yes, Pepper is doing much better but it was scary in the beginning. The NutriDrench perked her up enough where she would walk around and not just sit or when she would stand just wobble on her legs. Like you I tried bribing her with mealworms but she ate about 2 and stopped. I think the problem was the diarrhea which she still has but at least she isn't loosing weight. Like someone suggested on the post I am hoping it is due to her molting. I hope your girl does well. She look beautiful!

 

[lisasea]

More answers to questions:

• She's not as droopy as she looks in these pictures. I had to put her on a slippery countertop (thoroughly sanitized afterward) to get her in the light, and so she wasn't properly balanced. When she has her "bad days" she looks like this, but most days she's upright and running around.
• Her crop is never full and is really hard to find at all. When she's had a good night and gobbled lots of stuff up, it maybe gets to the size of golf ball (probably a pinch smaller). My other chickens' crops are much bigger, fuller, and firmer when I check them all at bedtime for comparison.
• She drinks a ton of water, so her crop is sometimes squishy like a water balloon, but it seems to be directly correlated to water consumption. Sometimes she'll drink for minutes on end. I have seen it sway a bit and jiggle when she does that in the past, but now it's never even visible. I'll run this pendulum theory by the vet too. It's a good one.
• No changes to her stance or how wide her legs are apart.
• The rest of her abdomen is really boney due to the weight loss. Her keel bone is pretty sharp to the touch, and the bones on her backside buried in her butt fluff are also visible when you poke around. She used to be much more voluptuous...
• Our dog Primo is one of the flock and our girls grew up around him. Poor guy seems to be at the bottom of the pecking order, but he's living proof that you don't need to go get a fancy livestock guardian dog from a catalog. An 11 year old rescued pitbull will scare off hawks and raccoons just fine...and teach your chooks new tricks

 

[Hamiam]

I just read thru the thread & wanted to say, my flock also likes the Flock Raiser 20 % protein, they prefer the crumbles over pellets. If you feed this, you will need to have oyster shell available for the layers to get calcium as needed. Its crazy how just adding some water to the dry, the girls think I'm giving a special treat. (Always throw out wet left-overs)
I sure hope your able to get to the bottom of this mystery & she makes a full recovery!

 

[lissalischicks]

Its crazy how just adding some water to the dry, the girls think I'm giving a special treat.

This is so true and something I learned recently!!! They went berserk for the wet food.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Ok, just done reading & you've done a great job feeding us all that info. No clue what the problem is but I agree about feeding higher protein feed instead of Layer. I too feed Flock Raiser (fermented) with Oyster Shells on the side. Fermenting their feed, they drink less water, they're getting it from the wet feed, among other benefits.

Your hen's "watery" poo could due to all the water she's drinking & not eating. I've notice my girls poop is softer with the more veggies/fruits/greens they eat. If I keep them ONLY on their fermented Flock Raiser, I get so much messy bums.

I've got 4 BOs, they each have their own personalities & get along great. Your girl is a pretty one and looking forward to hear she's on a mend.

 

[staceyj]

I am relieved to hear that's not her normal posture! I forgot to add together to the list of things to try to tempt her with.
Mine really love the Fage Greek yogert. Just the plain. Not the stuff with fruit and sugar in it.
I throw a blob on top of the wet mash a few times a week.

I don't know about you guys but.......


I'm thinking @azygous may be the showcase showdown winner when @lisasea talks to the vet!!!

If so this would be something concrete that you can work on because there are lots of posts about making an effective crop bra.

This a prime example of how collaboration and learning from one another's heartbreaks such as @azygous shared, makes BYC such a great place!
Even your vet may learn from this.

Please keep us posted!

 

[BantyChooks]

I don't have any suggestions, but I'd like to say that you're great with giving enough information for proper help. Thank you!

 

[azygous]

This a prime example of how collaboration and learning from one another's heartbreaks such as @azygous shared, makes BYC such a great place!

It's what I love best about this place. We all have experiences and knowledge, and when we put these together with one another, BYC becomes an encyclopedia of priceless information.

It's also exciting to see how these threads turn out after we've all contributed. The Big Prize is seeing a chicken patient get better.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Azygous is onto something about the crop.
A hen drinking a ton of water is telltale, the hens trying to break up/wash down the stuff in the crop herself.