Surgery a few days ago, was doing great, now lethargic

[Ccort]

Time will tell. She's such a strong little hen, I think we're all rooting for her.
Have you gotten some food into her? Have you tried offering her most favourite treats? When my girls (ducks though, not chickens) are unwell, I always go for wet feed, scrambled eggs, and a warm oaty mash (with vitamins added in). I find those things usually get their interest. Is she drinking anything, on her own?

Thank you.

I've tried her favorites but no interest. She's drinking very minimally on her own. She seems almost like she's in a trance. Just so out of it.
I made a more concentrated mix this morning of sugar water to make sure the sugar is in her. I tried syringing her some raw egg yesterday but after spending so much time on getting water into her, wasn't successful.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she pooping at all? How does her crop feel—empty and flat, partly full, firm, doughy, or puffy? Did she have her oviduct removed? I would suspect that she is having problems related to her surgery. It could be infection, or something else. Most feed stores like Tractor Supply and Rural King sell 35 ml syringes. A short 12-15 inch length of aquarium air tubing or oxygen tubing usually fits those regular syringes, and that can be used to crop or tube feed her. You can tube feed fluids, raw egg and plain yogurt pretty easily in such a small tube.

 

[Ccort]

Is she pooping at all? How does her crop feel—empty and flat, partly full, firm, doughy, or puffy? Did she have her oviduct removed? I would suspect that she is having problems related to her surgery. It could be infection, or something else. Most feed stores like Tractor Supply and Rural King sell 35 ml syringes. A short 12-15 inch length of aquarium air tubing or oxygen tubing usually fits those regular syringes, and that can be used to crop or tube feed her. You can tube feed fluids, raw egg and plain yogurt pretty easily in such a small tube.

Her crop feels like a water balloon with some water in it. Not squishy but nothing like food in it that I feel.
She had her uterus removed as well as an ectopic egg and several adhesions. She also recieved birth control.
If an infection, shouldn't the antibiotic be starting to kick in? She has two doses.
She is pooping, although it's runny and in very little amounts.
The specialist is supposed to have an on-call person in today so I am calling to see what they say. Yesterday they do said they wanted to see if the meds helped and warned me if I brought her today, it was be a high fee. Problem is, they're also 2.5 hours away. My regular vet wont be in until tomorrow.
I don't know what to do.
I'm planning to get a tube. With that...how much do you pour down into the tube at a time? Can she aspirate?

 

[Eggcessive]

You should try to give about 15 ml (1/2 an ounce) of fluid per pound of weight every 6-8 hours. How much does she weigh? A kitchen scale can accurately weigh her. Feel her crop before giving more to make sure that it is emptying. Here is a link about tube feeding:
https://bitchinchickens.com/2022/05/16/gavage-tube-feeding-chickens/

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she has multiple problems since she had adhesions. There could also be complications. The antibiotic dosage could be increased to 400 mg twice a day. But if her crop is not working, she may not be getting the benefit of the antibiotic. She may be having digestive problems with her crop, gizzard, or intestines not working well. I would probably wait until the more knowledgeable vet is it in tomorrow, but that is up to you. Reproductive infections, salpingitis, egg masses inside the abdomen are very common in our backyard hens. I don’t take mine to the vet anyway, but I hope that you can save her.

 

[azygous]

I'm as disappointed as you are that she isn't improving. She's had a lot of trauma to her insides. Can you feel her abdomen and tell if it's swelling and becoming harder? That could mean she's bleeding internally. Is her comb darkish purple?

The other possibility is that infection has set in. Your vet does need to be consulted on this. Her meds may need to be increased. But I have doubts about her surviving such a long trip back to the vet's in both directions in her condition. I would not consider it with her so weak.

Try to get the tubing if you can.

 

[Ccort]

Her abdomen feels normal to me and her face looks red. She does still feel rather warm to me.
She weighed 4.4 lbs at her last visit.
I just spoke to the vet. They said she probably needs another dose (the one this evening) of the antibiotic to see any effect from that. They recommended just to keep her warm and give her meds. They said if she stays the same for today, then keep on like this but if she worsens, she needs seen. Also said though that she could be septic.
I'm going to get a tube. Do you think PetSmart has those? I ask because I'm about thirty minutes from a farm store and trying to watch her closely.

 

[Canadian Wind]

PetSmart should have the aquarium tubing, yes.

 

[Ccort]

It sounds like she has multiple problems since she had adhesions. There could also be complications. The antibiotic dosage could be increased to 400 mg twice a day. But if her crop is not working, she may not be getting the benefit of the antibiotic. She may be having digestive problems with her crop, gizzard, or intestines not working well. I would probably wait until the more knowledgeable vet is it in tomorrow, but that is up to you. Reproductive infections, salpingitis, egg masses inside the abdomen are very common in our backyard hens. I don’t take mine to the vet anyway, but I hope that you can save her.

As for the antibiotic, they only gave me a few days worth to begin with so I can't really increase it.

 

[Ccort]

Thanks all. Is there an antibiotic I can/should get from the store to add?