Update: crop surgery with graphic photos

[Emilysclukscluks]

Let's begin with her age. How old is she?
Have you checked her crop? If not, go feel it. Is it full or empty? Hard or squishy?
Has she been laying? If so, when was her last egg? Has she ever had a problem with laying thin shell or soft eggs?
Do your chickens free range? Do they have access to compost?

She will be 2 on February 1st, her crop is very squishy feeling I can feel some grain but it feels like there is quite a bit of liquid, not like her sisters. She has not been laying as of late, about a month ago she dropped two weird small eggs in the night while she was perched they just had the membrane no shell. Could that be linked to her being sick now? they don't have access to compost, I let them free range when I'm home, we live in town they have a coop with a large indoor and outdoor area. I lock them up at night. I live in Canada so its quite cold now but I keep the coop quite warm.

 

[Emilysclukscluks]

I am feeding my sick chicken a mix of plain Greek yogurt, scrambled eggs and gamebird crumbles. When she slowed down on that I found that adding brightly colored bits of food-raspberries, papaya, red peppers-got her eating again. I also had to mix in applesauce because she wasn’t drinking either. Adding NutriDrench also recommended.
Her comb looks a bit paler than the summer picture. Have you checked for mites? Have a fecal run for internal parasites. The color change may be imaginary due to the different lighting but still look into those.

I have been giving her some plain organic Kefir but I stopped because someone told me it was to hard for her to digest ? I will start making her some special meals and bring her inside. I have checked her for mites and her feathers look great I didn't notice anything.

 

[Roamin_goats_farm]

This is her today, very thin, I notice she is drinking quite a bit and still eating some but not much. She is not vocalizing very much and when she does it sounds very quiet. My other hen is like the image of health bright red comb perfect poops and very boisterous. View attachment 1995060View attachment 1995060

Poor thing

 

[azygous]

She may have a sour crop, from your description of the crop. You need to verify this by withholding food and water over night and checking the crop in the morning to see if it's empty. If the crop is still full and squishy in the morning, then you will need to treat for sour crop.

The good news is that this is likely what's making her sick. It's a miserable condition caused by Candida yeast, the same thing that women get in their vagina, and it's treated with the same medicine.

Get some miconazole vaginal yeast cream from the store. You will be treating her twice a day for seven days. Here's all you need to know about it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Giving her kefir is fine. In fact, it's a good thing to give her as she's recovering from any type of crop disorder, and also after you treat a chicken with an antibiotic to restore good microbes in the crop and intestines. It would be hard to overdo it, as chickens seem to self limit what they consume of milk products. Just be sure there is no sugar in it and don't give her any carbs during her crop treatment. Egg, tofu, yogurt, and kefir are fine.

 

[Emilysclukscluks]

She may have a sour crop, from your description of the crop. You need to verify this by withholding food and water over night and checking the crop in the morning to see if it's empty. If the crop is still full and squishy in the morning, then you will need to treat for sour crop.

The good news is that this is likely what's making her sick. It's a miserable condition caused by Candida yeast, the same thing that women get in their vagina, and it's treated with the same medicine.

Get some miconazole vaginal yeast cream from the store. You will be treating her twice a day for seven days. Here's all you need to know about it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Giving her kefir is fine. In fact, it's a good thing to give her as she's recovering from any type of crop disorder, and also after you treat a chicken with an antibiotic to restore good microbes in the crop and intestines. It would be hard to overdo it, as chickens seem to self limit what they consume of milk products. Just be sure there is no sugar in it and don't give her any carbs during her crop treatment. Egg, tofu, yogurt, and kefir are fine.

Thanks so much I will do exactly as told! So it is possible for her to have sour crop even though she doesn't smell?

 

[micstrachan]

My thought is that the two shell less eggs are most likely related to her current illness. She looks ill to me and her comb is slightly bluish in the back. Can you feel her abdomen (fluffy area between her legs) and compare it to her bestie? Does it feel full of fluid at all? She also appears to have a spot or two of molt. Has she molted yet this year?

 

[Lizzy733]

The shell-less eggs would be a worry to me as it can be a sign of reproductive issues or infections. My first line go-to for that sort of thing is a warm epsom salt bath. It helps by relaxing the muscles and reducing swelling. A decent soak where they are covered at least up to their vent really helps with discomfort. Sometimes, this can be enough to help them get on top of infections and can clear a bound egg. Make sure to thoroughly dry after with a blow-dryer on low or towel.
With the runny fecals, have there been any signs of puss? It would look similar to cottage cheese in early stages of infection and become more solid in advanced infections. You can look up lash eggs or salpingitis for reference.
Another thing that could possibly be the issue is internal parasites; a fecal float is a routine veterinary check that can be done even at a cat and dog clinic.
With the crop, 'empty in the morning' 'full at night' is the general rule. No smell is a good sign.
Do be sure to check her abdomen as micstrachan mentioned. Use your healthy girl as reference if you need to. You may find she reacts by bracing and squatting when you do this and that can point to a bound egg.

 

[Emilysclukscluks]

My thought is that the two shell less eggs are most likely related to her current illness. She looks ill to me and her comb is slightly bluish in the back. Can you feel her abdomen (fluffy area between her legs) and compact it to her bestie? Does it feel full of fluid at all? She also appears to have a spot or two of molt. Has she molted yet this year?

So I felt her abdomen, I brought her inside and I truthfully cant feel liquid maybe I don’t know what to feel for, I believe she molted in the spring/summer. She’s quite lethargic.

 

[Emilysclukscluks]

 

[Roamin_goats_farm]

View attachment 1995286 View attachment 1995286

Poor thing I hope she feels better soon