Very Sick Chicken

[TheyBeChillin]

I have no idea what’s wrong with my hen. But I know when it all started.

On Wednesday, I went outside to see my girls when I noticed a dark, murky liquid around my chicken’s behind. I decided to rinse her off in a tub not really knowing what it was, and it was then I saw the maggots. Flystrike.

So, acting quickly, I bathed her off, got rid of all the maggots, and pulled her out of the tub. Looking at her feathers, I continued to pull off maggots. Then I waited two hours. Bathed her again. I waited awhile and seeing she had no more maggots, I quit with the bathing. I took her inside. Fed her egg and gave her water.

Next day, checked her, no eggs. No maggots. I thought, okay, great, I saved her from that. Now I just need to treat a wound. Then I noticed her crop felt squishy and like a balloon. Sour crop. So, I got miconazole cream and have been treating her with that. Her wound looks fine considering. But her crop is filled with fluid. If I gently massage it, it immediately comes back up.

What I don’t understand, however, is her need to constantly guzzle water. If I offer her water, she drinks and drinks and drinks and drinks until her crop is completely full of liquid. So I’ve been restraining her water. I give it to her frequently, but I know if I just leave it in there, she’ll drink and drink and drink.

I don’t know if her crop is impacted. I massage it, but I worry about liquid coming up and choking her since I know chickens can’t vomit. I wonder if the egg I fed her impacted it? As of Wednesday morning, she was perfectly healthy. But it’s been downhill ever since. She eats. She drinks. She moves around. Her wound isn’t horrible.

But I don’t know what to do. Should I massage her crop? Keep limiting water like I’m doing or just let her drink? WHY is she drinking so much? Shock? Injury?

My chickens have gotten sick so much this year. I honestly have no idea why. I love my birds dearly, and I haven’t had this many issues for as long as I have had them. Especially this chicken. For three years, she’s never had any problem, ever. Not so much as a scratch.

I’m really concerned. I don’t want to lose her. Please help!!

 

[JerryC999]

I think I may have a similar issue. I noticed one of the girls was lethargic this morning, and so I moved to separate her from the rest. When I picked her up I noticed she seemed very bloated, and then as I palpated her underside, fluid came out her nose and mouth. And then alot of fluid came. I put her in a separate run, and she now stands under the waterer drinking, but eating nothing. Whats going on?

 

[TheyBeChillin]

I think I may have a similar issue. I noticed one of the girls was lethargic this morning, and so I moved to separate her from the rest. When I picked her up I noticed she seemed very bloated, and then as I palpated her underside, fluid came out her nose and mouth. And then alot of fluid came. I put her in a separate run, and she now stands under the waterer drinking, but eating nothing. Whats going on?

Is it the area between her legs or her crop that is bloated?

If it is the area between her legs/below her vent, it might be water belly which is always fatal.

If it is her crop, then it is probably sour crop or impacted crop.

 

[JerryC999]

Sorry to say, but does seem to be between legs, below vent. So, fatal as in I should just take her out and end her misery? And is water belly something contagious? I will look it up. . .

 

[TheyBeChillin]

Sorry to say, but does seem to be between legs, below vent. So, fatal as in I should just take her out and end her misery? And is water belly something contagious? I will look it up. . .

No, water belly is not contagious at all. It is ultimately fatal, yes. It is caused by liver failure or kidney failure as I understand it- you didn't do anything wrong. Sometimes it's genetics. Sometimes it's age.

You can't cure them- but I do believe you can lengthen their life. I am very sorry.

 

[alinas2010]

I have no idea what’s wrong with my hen. But I know when it all started.

On Wednesday, I went outside to see my girls when I noticed a dark, murky liquid around my chicken’s behind. I decided to rinse her off in a tub not really knowing what it was, and it was then I saw the maggots. Flystrike.

So, acting quickly, I bathed her off, got rid of all the maggots, and pulled her out of the tub. Looking at her feathers, I continued to pull off maggots. Then I waited two hours. Bathed her again. I waited awhile and seeing she had no more maggots, I quit with the bathing. I took her inside. Fed her egg and gave her water.

Next day, checked her, no eggs. No maggots. I thought, okay, great, I saved her from that. Now I just need to treat a wound. Then I noticed her crop felt squishy and like a balloon. Sour crop. So, I got miconazole cream and have been treating her with that. Her wound looks fine considering. But her crop is filled with fluid. If I gently massage it, it immediately comes back up.

What I don’t understand, however, is her need to constantly guzzle water. If I offer her water, she drinks and drinks and drinks and drinks until her crop is completely full of liquid. So I’ve been restraining her water. I give it to her frequently, but I know if I just leave it in there, she’ll drink and drink and drink.

I don’t know if her crop is impacted. I massage it, but I worry about liquid coming up and choking her since I know chickens can’t vomit. I wonder if the egg I fed her impacted it? As of Wednesday morning, she was perfectly healthy. But it’s been downhill ever since. She eats. She drinks. She moves around. Her wound isn’t horrible.

But I don’t know what to do. Should I massage her crop? Keep limiting water like I’m doing or just let her drink? WHY is she drinking so much? Shock? Injury?

My chickens have gotten sick so much this year. I honestly have no idea why. I love my birds dearly, and I haven’t had this many issues for as long as I have had them. Especially this chicken. For three years, she’s never had any problem, ever. Not so much as a scratch.

I’m really concerned. I don’t want to lose her. Please help!!

Sorry to hear about your chicken. Guzzling water is a sign of a crop issue, which is fitting, if she has an impacted or sour crop.

I don’t think I would limit her water or food. A lot of people limit food with sour crop, but I’ve always let mine limit themselves. If you want to limit her water a bit before you plan to massage her crop to avoid her aspirating, I don’t see a problem with that.

Have you tried giving her coconut oil and massaging her crop to break up anything in there? What is the dosage you’re giving her for the monistat?

How is she doing now? Lethargic at all?

 

[TheyBeChillin]

Sorry to hear about your chicken. Guzzling water is a sign of a crop issue, which is fitting, if she has an impacted or sour crop.

I don’t think I would limit her water or food. A lot of people limit food with sour crop, but I’ve always let mine limit themselves. If you want to limit her water a bit before you plan to massage her crop to avoid her aspirating, I don’t see a problem with that.

Have you tried giving her coconut oil and massaging her crop to break up anything in there? What is the dosage you’re giving her for the monistat?

How is she doing now? Lethargic at all?

Oh, thank you so much for responding! It is a relief to hear the guzzling water is a sign of crop issues.

No, I have not tried giving her coconut oil, but I do have a big jar handy. I am giving her about a half inch a day. This is day two for treatment with monistat cream- I'll continue it for a week.

No, she isn't lethargic. She lays in her crate quite a bit, but it's small. I've been taking her out in the yard off and on, watching her closely with the others. Not lethargic at all. Her eyes are bright, and besides the feathers around her wound, her feathers are shiny. She's fighting to live, and it is a huge relief to know she hasn't given up.

 

[alinas2010]

Oh, thank you so much for responding! It is a relief to hear the guzzling water is a sign of crop issues.

No, I have not tried giving her coconut oil, but I do have a big jar handy. I am giving her about a half inch a day. This is day two for treatment with monistat cream- I'll continue it for a week.

No, she isn't lethargic. She lays in her crate quite a bit, but it's small. I've been taking her out in the yard off and on, watching her closely with the others. Not lethargic at all. Her eyes are bright, and besides the feathers around her wound, her feathers are shiny. She's fighting to live, and it is a huge relief to know she hasn't given up.

It’s good she’s alert.

Try some frozen coconut oil and she might take a few bites then you can massage her crop a bit and see if you can break anything up. Here is a link to a fabulous article by @azygous about crop ailments and how to treat:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

You may find some more helpful advice in there.

 

[azygous]

Over consumption of water, unless it's due to being a hot day, is often a sign of crop or gizzard impaction. I do not recommend withholding water and food. Drinking water is a reflex to flush their system to move the impacted material.

You can encourage the chicken to eat grit and also give probiotics to encourage digestion.

Does this chicken have diarrhea? If so, an antibiotic may be necessary to fight the infection causing it.

 

[TheyBeChillin]

Over consumption of water, unless it's due to being a hot day, is often a sign of crop or gizzard impaction. I do not recommend withholding water and food. Drinking water is a reflex to flush their system to move the impacted material.

You can encourage the chicken to eat grit and also give probiotics to encourage digestion.

Does this chicken have diarrhea? If so, an antibiotic may be necessary to fight the infection causing it.

Yes, she is having diarrhea. Where could I get that antibiotic? How much would it cost?