Suggestions for Lethargic Hen?

[BuddingGardener]

Glad that you saw the vet. Did the X-rays show anything? Omeprazole can cause constipation, although it is used for reflux in humans. I’m not sure why they would use that, but I am not a vet. Maybe they thought crop contents were coming back up into the throat, causing the crackles? You might ask them, since her crop is full. Check it first thing in the morning, when it should be empty. Be sure to not use Dulcolax laxative, but only the stool softener. Dulcolax is only a brand name, and they see stool softeners and laxatives. The stool softener used for crop is doccusate sodium, generic Colace. There has been a lot of confusion over the Dulcolax name. Chilled coconut oil, cut into small peckable pieces is helpful.

Honestly I was surprised by the omeprazole too. I gave her peckable pieces of coconut oil this afternoon and she enjoyed a nice massage in my lap. She is pooping solids and her crop is feeling better! She went straight to eating after her massage and I’m encouraged.

 

[BuddingGardener]

Glad that you saw the vet. Did the X-rays show anything? Omeprazole can cause constipation, although it is used for reflux in humans. I’m not sure why they would use that, but I am not a vet. Maybe they thought crop contents were coming back up into the throat, causing the crackles? You might ask them, since her crop is full. Check it first thing in the morning, when it should be empty. Be sure to not use Dulcolax laxative, but only the stool softener. Dulcolax is only a brand name, and they see stool softeners and laxatives. The stool softener used for crop is doccusate sodium, generic Colace. There has been a lot of confusion over the Dulcolax name. Chilled coconut oil, cut into small peckable pieces is helpful.

Now that I'm a computer I can also add:

The x-rays showed nothing wrong at all with her lungs, all normal. Both her crop and her gizzards were absolutely full of food and she looked inflamed around the gizzards, which appeared to be causing the constipation and lack of food movement through her system. They told me they couldn't rule out reproductive issues/inflammation causing the problems but recommended a GI treatment.

I don't think the crop itself is what's blocked but it's lower down in the tract, since both stomachs were filled, and I agree with that assessment. NSAIDs and a broad spectrum antibiotic seemed sensible for me since they did not suspect gleet or sour crop (and I could not smell anything suggesting it; the inside of her mouth smells fine). The dulcolax I purchased was the stool softener gel caps, and I made sure to look up which kind to get before picking it up. Is it safe to administer the cap whole or should I be draining the gel out of it? I would like to give the dulcolax as a last resort as she DOES appear to be pooping big solids now.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can pop the softgel into her beak whole or give it in food, but make sure that she takes it all.

 

[Seaslug]

So glad to hear that things are looking up! I know how you feel about your chickens.

 

[BuddingGardener]

This doesn't sound like good news but it totally is: she's starting to put up a fight for her meds. Pooping much more regularly. Tried to offer some more coconut oil but she fought so I decided to cut my losses. She ate plenty today and I'll check her crop in the morning.

 

[PopoMyers]

This doesn't sound like good news but it totally is: she's starting to put up a fight for her meds. Pooping much more regularly. Tried to offer some more coconut oil but she fought so I decided to cut my losses. She ate plenty today and I'll check her crop in the morning.

Fighting you is an excellent sign of improvement.

 

[BuddingGardener]

I set her in a separate area outside today. She is pooping, half of it is runny and liquidy. Her solid poops sometimes have thick globs of mucus. I called the vet with a question about it, and they'll get back to me about whether that's normal as she's clearing infection and inflammation with her antibiotic. Other than that, she IS demonstrably more active and alert and seems much happier to be in sight of her sisters. I gave her bottom a bath because there was a lot of poop stuck to her feathers and set her in the screened in porch with food and water where she can see the flock. She's currently enjoying the sun.

EDIT to add: the liquidy poop may also be a side-effect of injected fluids, I'm sure

 

[BuddingGardener]

The vet called me back yesterday and told me it's nothing to be concerned about and it will improve, especially since she's already improving. Super nice and compassionate hospital -- it was my first time going because it's farther out than some others, but their service was probably the best I've gotten in a veterinary ER. They told me if I have any specific pictures or concerns that they will take them from me and add them to her file.

My hen (Betsy) was getting bored and rather depressed in the hospital pen, so now that I have verified her crop is emptying and she is passing stool regularly, I have let her out with her flock and she is acting almost fully normal. She is no longer making her higher-pitched clucks, which I now suppose must have been pained clucks, poor girl. I bet she'll sleep a lot better too close to her flockmates.

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that she is acting more normal.

 

[BuddingGardener]

Glad that she is acting more normal.

Thank you! I hope she continues to trend better. We're monitoring her closely while she's on her meds.