UPDATE - Very Sick Rhode Island Red

[azhenhouse]

Is a crop always something you can feel, empty or not? I could feel it this morning, even though she hadn't eaten in 24 hours. I feel it a lot more now that she has eaten.

I don't think she is egg bound. Her tail is not pumping and she is not trying to push anything out. Would she stop laying if there was a impacted or sour crop?

Thank You

 

[chickens egg me on]

Yes to worms. It is not hard on your birds or on you to de-worm them. Use a 5 mil dropper to feed and water her if she stops eating on her own as she is likely to do at this stage. I feed yogurt and flax seed or almond butter and some water. Chickens have no way to deal with fats so nonfat is important. She needs to be de-wormed asap. Best to you and your hen.

 

[azhenhouse]

HI All, I am starting my RR on a dewormer today. Hopefully, this will help her feel better. I bought the only thing our local feed store has, Wazine17. The directions read: over 6 weeks of age, for each 100 birds, use 2 fluid ounces (60ml) in 2 gallons of water. So, I would use just 1 fluid ounce (30ml) in 1 gallon of water, correct? Even if I have just 11 chickens and not 100.

Thanks.

 

[Chicken-Man]

Could she be eggbound? That has happened to a few of my hens. Sometimes you can actually see them straining as if to lay an egg...they won't be in the nest when doing this most of the time. If so, a warm bath will help. If the egg has broken inside of her you will have to go in (yes, with your finger) and get the shell out. (I had to do this once and it was as shocking as it was gross).

I had a hen yesterday with a sour crop (the same one that was eggbound a few months ago). I gave her some olive oil (w/small syringe) last night and this morning the round mass about the size of a walnut was broken up and I was able to massage it and then turned her upside down as she regurgitated all the yuckiness. It was very smelly & nasty. Afterwards I gave her some cooked oatmeal (will give yogurt or buttermilk tomorrow) so I'm hoping she will be okay. Those are the only 2 things I have experience with. I wouldn't think it would be worms since it's only the one hen...but who knows.