Very Sick Chicken: Please Help

[Adolph Otto]

My hen continues to suffer with crop issues. I have brought her back to hospital in the basement after treating for sour crop last month. Ten days before that I treated for the same. Now I am using ACS which I started yesterday. Nothing seems to be coming out of her. She pukes when leaning forward to eat or drink, so I hold the bowl up.
Her crop is very large and squishy. She drank a lot of the ACS treated water yesterday. I fear a blockage, but I don't know. I notice a slight head tremor now. ANY help gratefully welcomed!

 

[azygous]

Your hen may have pendulous crop. This is a condition caused by poor muscle tone and the crop sags. This inhibits the emptying of the crop. The solution is a crop bra.

Try this experiment to see if pendulous crop is what's behind this. Hold the hen in your lap and get her relaxed and comfortable. Then cup and support her crop with your hand, raising it up. Then gently manipulate the crop contents aiming at a point halfway up her chest. Work it for several minutes, careful to be very gentle so as not to force liquid into her throat. This should empty the crop. Look at the diagram to see where the crop empties into the proventriculus.That;s the "drain" to aim for.

 

[Adolph Otto]

Your hen may have pendulous crop. This is a condition caused by poor muscle tone and the crop sags. This inhibits the emptying of the crop. The solution is a crop bra.

Try this experiment to see if pendulous crop is what's behind this. Hold the hen in your lap and get her relaxed and comfortable. Then cup and support her crop with your hand, raising it up. Then gently manipulate the crop contents aiming at a point halfway up her chest. Work it for several minutes, careful to be very gentle so as not to force liquid into her throat. This should empty the crop. Look at the diagram to see where the crop empties into the proventriculus.That;s the "drain" to aim for.View attachment 4043772

Thank you, I'll try that now!

 

[azygous]

Here is my thread on how to make a crop bra if you are good at sewing. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-a-crop-bra-for-a-hen-with-pendulous-crop.1464848/

 

[Adolph Otto]

Here is my thread on how to make a crop bra if you are good at sewing. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-a-crop-bra-for-a-hen-with-pendulous-crop.1464848/

Thanks! I don't sew but I saw your other thread mentioning glue. I have a glue gun, so I will make one with that.
I gave her the massage as you instructed. I worked it for about 6-7 minutes. I was very careful not to direct the contents up, although she did puke twice (she's very full).
About 20 minutes later she pooed an incredibly rank crap. I had to open the window! After that she seemed more alert and drank some treated (ACS) water. Crop still full, however. I gave her earlier this morning a molasses flush, which she loved, drinking nearly all of the 1/4 cup mixture I made. Hoping this will continue to work. Could I give her more later?
I'm also trying to get some coconut oil into her (chunks)b but she's not having it. She loved it last time I treated her.
Can't thank you enough. Not sure if she'll recover, i have my doubts, but I sure will try! Please advise further,
Steve

 

[azygous]

Yes, you may safely give her more of the molasses flush. It's got a double advantage of raising blood glucose to step up her energy, and it gently stimulates the intestines to move food through.

 

[Adolph Otto]

Awesome. Thank you!

 

[Adolph Otto]

Still very full. Day 2 of ACS. Had an appetite for a little regular layer crumble an hour ago. I don't want to give her too much. I hope to see evidence of emptying in the AM.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry, what is ACS?

 

[Adolph Otto]

Still very full. Day 2 of ACS. Had an appetite for a little regular layer crumble an hour ago. I don't want to give her too much. I hope to see evidence of emptying in the AM.

Still full. Some wet green poo under her this morning. She roosted overnight on a bar I put in the crate. Is the ACS water OK for a few days or should I change it? It's in a plastic hanging waterer in the crate.