Still have a very sick chicken - what else can I try

[puddinbabe]

You may have seen some of my other threads over the past few weeks. I've got a hen who has an enlarged, squishy crop, and nothing much seems to be passing through it. She's emaciated and won't eat but will drink water. When I vomit her, the liquid that comes out does not smell bad. Its just whatever liquid shes injected or whatever I've forcefed her. But no matter what I put in there, it really doesn't pass through her (i.e. yogurt will still be in there after 36 hours). Her poops are watery with white urates, sometimes tinged a little yellow. There is nothing hard in the crop. I've had the chicken, Harriet, a black sex link, for over 7 years and she was mature when I found her.

I've tried:
-Crop bound pills from TriCity Poultry. I was told these made her have diarrhea so she would pass what ever might be blocking the way. Used these with 4 days with no results.
-Monistat in the crop in case it was sour crop. This didn't do much and if I vomited her I could see the waxy liquid in the regurgitate.
-Tetramycin in the water (has been for 3 days)
-Black strap molassas
-Forcefeeding yogurt and layer mash. This stays in the crop. I vomit her about every 2 days because the crop gets so big and uncomfortable.
-Ivermectin pour on - 3 drops as she weighs nothing - in case it was an internal or external parasite.
-Mites/lice spray for birds - she looked like she had some very small white mites on her feather shafts, but I can't see how that has anything to do with a crop/intestine issue. Treated her anyway just in case. Thought the ivermectin would deal with this, but I had the spray on hand.
-Electrolytes
-Vent exam to make sure nothing was in there

She's not getting any better. Pale, droopy comb. She pecks at food but doesn't eat. She's not interested in any of her favorite treats. She drinks lots of water. She walks around for a bit and then will lay for a bit. She will stay on a perch at night if I put her up there. She fights force feeding so she hasn't given up yet.

There isn't a vet in the area that will treat chickens. A special trip to the university exotics vet will run as much as a car payment.

Is there anything else I could try on her? I don't think I can do much harm. I'm trying to decide at what point to put her down. Maybe when she stops walking? I don't want ti give up on her, but I don't want her to suffer. She starving to death and can't weigh more than 1.5-2.5 lbs. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Pork Pie]

It seems like you have done all you can but if a more experience member can offer additional options, then great. I would suggest, pending further advice it may be better to consider culling sooner rather than later.

CT

 

[J6 darlings]

You obviously love her a lot to keep trying to help her feel better. Don't let her suffer any longer. She sounds like she is ready to go to chicken heaven......sorry.....

 

[Teila]

I am sorry you and your gal are going through this.

Does she eat anything at all? Would she eat some sardines in oil? If not, is there any way you could get a small amount of oil into her and gently massage her crop following that?

I do not want to prolong her suffering, but in a last ditch effort the oil may just help shift whatever is blocking her and if she likes the sardines, as my gals do, she may be encouraged to eat something.

 

[puddinbabe]

Ive tried oil, just forgot to add it to the list. She won't eat anything unless I can put it in a syringe and fill her crop, and even then it won't pass the crop. I've had her so long its hard to think about putting her down if she's still walking. I only have one other hen so I've been putting her in the coop during the day with her friend who shows no signs of being ill whatsoever.

 

[casportpony]

Can you take her to a vet?

-Kathy

 

[puddinbabe]

I decided it was time to let my lady go. She had a good life. I hope I can find another chicken as wonderful as her.

 

[Pork Pie]

You did the right thing under the circumstances I think.