The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[kitkat5505]

I’m glad Lizzie is doing better. Sorry Betsy is still having problems. I’ve not dealt with crop problems, yet, so I have no advice.

None of my animals/pets are registered. My city doesn’t require licensing for chickens, unlike where I moved from that does require a fee every year and they actually come check your coop size, placement and flock size (max 5 I think). Here coops are just supposed to have an enclosed run (no free range) and 10 chickens max, but nobody really comes to check so unless you have nasty neighbors who tattle you can get away with bending the rules. We have good neighbors here. I let my girls free range a few evenings a week before sunset. I also have a dog and 3 cats and my dog is supposed to be registered but is not. They get their shots and fixed (kitten will be getting that scheduled in a couple months when he’s old enough). I take care of them, make sure they are fixed and get rabies shot and don’t let my dog roam. I know very few people who actually register their dogs. Those who do are usually because their dog has been picked up by animal control for being loose so they got on their radar.

 

[Pyxis]

I can't tube feed, never tried it, so would have my doubts about getting a tube into the crop, and my husband would absolutely not help me do it, either. I don't even know what a "18 Fr feeding tube" is. I decided that I would never tube feed a chicken so I never tried to learn anything about it.
Monistat, as in putting it into the crop, you mean? I don't think I've heard of doing that, but maybe I have and just don't remember. I've heard everything else under the sun, ACV, no ACV, yogurt, no yogurt, this, that, etc, etc. It's hard to know what is right, isn't it? Carla (Allen Wranch) was the one who recommended the copper sulfate in the water for sour crop so Carla, being a very experienced breeder, I was comfortable taking her recommendation. I know Betsy is drinking, at least.

What I don't understand is why pliable stuff won't move out of the crop. It's not technically impacted. Why is it just sitting? That always puzzled me on the few occasions it happened.

This is a thread on using it to treat sour crop:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sour-crop-cured-with-monistat.630307/

I've never done it myself, so I can't vouch for it, but according to that thread it works.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The only time I had crop problem I did gentle massages and the stuff finally cleared. The hen did die a year later from non specific causes, which feeds my theory that chickens with problems tend to have other internal stuff wrong too. Hopefully it gets straightened out. You could ask @Eggcessive , she's pretty smart on treating.

I have had hens who have white streaked poop bottoms that haven't been vent gleen. My understanding of vent gleen is that it a fungus that requires treatment. Some hens are just messy.

 

[speckledhen]

This is a thread on using it to treat sour crop:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sour-crop-cured-with-monistat.630307/

I've never done it myself, so I can't vouch for it, but according to that thread it works.

Thank you. Sounds like several have had success with that so I'm going to try it. Sent DH out for the stuff. I cannot lose Betsy. This is nuts. Makes me wonder if she got hold of something out there on the property. No one else has this, even the badly molting older hens.

The only time I had crop problem I did gentle massages and the stuff finally cleared. The hen did die a year later from non specific causes, which feeds my theory that chickens with problems tend to have other internal stuff wrong too. Hopefully it gets straightened out. You could ask @Eggcessive , she's pretty smart on treating.

I have had hens who have white streaked poop bottoms that haven't been vent gleen. My understanding of vent gleen is that it a fungus that requires treatment. Some hens are just messy.

We got the impacted part fixed with massage and the Dulcolax, but it just sat so long that it soured. We've massaged what's left multiple times per day, even pushing the mass back toward the hole at the back to move it through manually. I rarely have this much trouble on this issue unless it's a very old gal like Dusty. And then, I can just let nature take care of it if I have no initial success, but Betsy is in my main breeding group, not quite a year and a half old.

I agree, some hens have messy poop and bottoms no matter what you do. Case in point, Lizzie's liquid poop. No amount of probiotics help her, but she seems robust and healthy, overall. Even injured, she's hassling Tessa that I put in with her for company.

 

[speckledhen]

I’m glad Lizzie is doing better. Sorry Betsy is still having problems. I’ve not dealt with crop problems, yet, so I have no advice.

None of my animals/pets are registered. My city doesn’t require licensing for chickens, unlike where I moved from that does require a fee every year and they actually come check your coop size, placement and flock size (max 5 I think). Here coops are just supposed to have an enclosed run (no free range) and 10 chickens max, but nobody really comes to check so unless you have nasty neighbors who tattle you can get away with bending the rules. We have good neighbors here. I let my girls free range a few evenings a week before sunset. I also have a dog and 3 cats and my dog is supposed to be registered but is not. They get their shots and fixed (kitten will be getting that scheduled in a couple months when he’s old enough). I take care of them, make sure they are fixed and get rabies shot and don’t let my dog roam. I know very few people who actually register their dogs. Those who do are usually because their dog has been picked up by animal control for being loose so they got on their radar.

I've never had much issue with getting the dog's tag every year since it goes with the rabies vaccine, certainly would never skip the rabies shots even for the cat. But, this registering a flock of chickens is different, IMO. I understand neighborhood covenants, which supersede county laws, which is why I will never move where there are covenants. We have them here, but they are so minor, like no pigs and no mobile homes. When we moved here, we had no idea to have livestock anyway. But, the government does not belong in my barnyard and in the business of how I choose to feed my family, what I grow on my land, etc.

 

[speckledhen]

Got the stuff, cut a suppository and gave her 1/3. Someone said she cut them into thirds and gave her hen 1/3 in the a.m. and 1/3 in the p.m. until all 9 pieces were gone. I will try it that way and see if we can fix this for Betsy. Since I've never had to use the product myself, did not have it on hand. Kudos to my very awesome husband who bought it for Betsy. He has no problem with that kind of stuff. Love my guy!

I know I must have come across that treatment at one time or another but didn't really pay it much attention. I know I've seen Monistat suggested for vent gleet, but I can't recall someone using for sour crop, though it makes sense. Thank you, Ms Pyxis for suggesting it!

 

[Pyxis]

Got the stuff, cut a suppository and gave her 1/3. Someone said she cut them into thirds and gave her hen 1/3 in the a.m. and 1/3 in the p.m. until all 9 pieces were gone. I will try it that way and see if we can fix this for Betsy. Since I've never had to use the product myself, did not have it on hand. Kudos to my very awesome husband who bought it for Betsy. He has no problem with that kind of stuff. Love my guy!

I know I must have come across that treatment at one time or another but didn't really pay it much attention. I know I've seen Monistat suggested for vent gleet, but I can't recall someone using for sour crop, though it makes sense.

I hope it works

 

[speckledhen]

I hope it works

Me, too, me too. I so appreciate you for sending me that direction. We shall see. If it does work, I will keep some on hand for the future and hope I don't have to use it!

 

[1muttsfan]

It sounds like she has a motility disorder, meaning that the muscles in her crop are not contracting normally, causing food to remain in the crop. I can't find any references on pharmaceutical treatment, but frequent emptying of the crop appears to be important, as otherwise the crop becomes dilated and has even more trouble emptying. You might be able to manage that by frequent gentle massage to move the liquids along.

Here is a quote from this article http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww42eiv.htm
"Crop stasis occurs when the normal mobility of the crop is impaired, causing food to remain in the crop. The crop may appear enlarged orit may be hidden by feathers. Food, fluid and mucus or foreign bodies may be present in the crop. Crop stasis is most common in baby psittaciines (parrots) and may be the result of improper concentration of formula, infection or dehydration. In older birds crop stasis may result from lead or zinc intoxication, foreign bodies, candida, parasites or viral infections, including PDD. Whatever the cause, food that remains in the crop for prolonged periods of time spoils as a result of bacterial and fungal overgrowth and can lead to systemic illness."

 

[1muttsfan]

Oh - no cows here. Just some horses that do not belong to me. And that is a long story, and a sore subject right now. I already griped about it on Stella's thread, so I will spare you all.

Dog licensing is necessary to ensure people vaccinate their dogs for Rabies. There are quite a few individuals that do not just ignore the licensing part, but also do not keep their vaccination current. It is one of the government fees I actually do not mind paying, as it is a public health issue. Hardly anyone alive today remembers the days when Rabies was common, not just in wildlife but pets as well, and people died after their own dogs - or a neighbor's dog - infected them. It is a horrible disease that steals your humanity and then kills you.