VERY stubborn doughy crop with gas

[WilliamC]

I'm so sorry this has been such a long and difficult journey for you and Butters. It's sounds like you are doing and have done anything and everything to help her. Perhaps it may be time to let her move on.

Sometimes, as the keepers of animals, the kindest thing we can do is help them to pass on when they are old and/or suffering. We need to make difficult choices about quality of life vs. quantity of years. Although, at 9 years old, Butters has had a MUCH longer life than most chickens and if she isn't improving, after all you have done, it may be her time to go.

This article really helped me re-frame things:
The Kindness of Euthanasia

I think this video is helpful as well:

I do not mean to sound insensitive and I truly hope this doesn't read that way. I just believe that maybe we need to have someone else tell us that's it OK to let them move on.

I know, I gave held as they died.

I'm so sorry this has been such a long and difficult journey for you and Butters. It's sounds like you are doing and have done anything and everything to help her. Perhaps it may be time to let her move on.

Sometimes, as the keepers of animals, the kindest thing we can do is help them to pass on when they are old and/or suffering. We need to make difficult choices about quality of life vs. quantity of years. Although, at 9 years old, Butters has had a MUCH longer life than most chickens and if she isn't improving, after all you have done, it may be her time to go.

This article really helped me re-frame things:
The Kindness of Euthanasia

I think this video is helpful as well:

I do not mean to sound insensitive and I truly hope this doesn't read that way. I just believe that maybe we need to have someone else tell us that's it OK to let them move on.

She is eating some, drinking, pooping, crop was clearing until this morning and it's doughy again, but I gave her the antibiotic orally last night. She's 5 pounds. Still alert, just acting ill since the antibiotic.
The antibiotic is LA200 and, thanks to people here, dosed by the vet much too strong so she got a lot both by injection Friday and orally last night.
This is the Vet I will have to go back to Monday.

I have held 9 hens as they passed.
I watched the vid you sent. And I do understand.
I just CANT cut her head off.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

I know, I gave held as they died.


She is eating some, drinking, pooping, crop was clearing until this morning and it's doughy again, but I gave her the antibiotic orally last night. She's 5 pounds. Still alert, just acting ill since the antibiotic.
The antibiotic is LA200 and, thanks to people here, dosed by the vet much too strong so she got a lot both by injection Friday and orally last night.
This is the Vet I will have to go back to Monday.

I have held 9 hens as they passed.
I watched the vid you sent. And I do understand.
I just CANT cut her head off.

Well I'm glad that maybe the situation isn't as dire as what the thread makes it seem. I do hope she gets better. I just wonder if it all is due to her age. I was more concerned with quality of life.

I would never advocate for just "cutting her head off" (although there are some people who use that method - it is not inhumane). A vet can easily euthanize via injection.

I didn't mean to sound flippant or insensitve. I only meant to offer encouragement that Butters has lived a good, long life with someone who obviously cares very deeply and that euthanasia is sometimes the kindest thing we can do.

If Butters isn't suffering, then I completely misinterpreted what I read in your comments and I apologize for assuming. My intentions were benevolent.

I truly wish you and Butters the best result possible! I actually started reading this thread because I have a hen who was experiencing a similar issue.

 

[WilliamC]

She has multiple problems but has been so sweet. I left her at the Vets and she's come back bleeding, black thigh and an injury which makes her snap her head back when I hold or pet her. It's taken alot out of her. I am distressed as well
I didn't take any anything you posted as mean or insensitive. I will be contacting Vets back home to see how they do it. We leave wendsday. I want her home to be with the rest who have passed. If she pulls through it will be a joy and Blessing.
I just wanted her looked at by an Avian vet, not cause her pain. It's not how I want her to go.
Please, I understand and appreciate all you have said, and must be taken into account.

 

[Yellow321]

The other day, without thinking, i gave her some watermelon. Mistake.

@WilliamC
Sorry to jump on here but I'm dealing with a doughy crop as well. Are we not supposed to give watermelon during this time? What did you mean by this statement? I've been giving a ton of watermelon to try and keep my lethargic chicken hydrated!

 

[WilliamC]

I am playing it by ear too.
This watermelon was really sweet. I thought I had things I check. I gave her some and her crop puffed up. I assumed the sugar in the Mellon might have caused it. I was trying to hydrated too.
Did it cause it? Just a guess for my situation.
I read today that the doughy/ sour crop was the same thing that causes thrush. I don't know...I do know none of the usual solutions were working as well.
I just started her on Floconazole suspension today. It's supposed to be strong. Can be used if there is material in the crop. She has a ball of mush and when I gave it to her she bloated with gas I had to burp out a few times. She is in a crop bra now too.
When it clears than probiotic and soft dissolvable foods. Water test- if you put it in water and it doesn't turn to mush dont give it. So I gave sugar free baby food apple sauce and hard boiled egg yoke this morning. Instead of grain some softened pellets.
She is drinking and pooing, and that's a good sign.

So this is my new plan. I hope it works.
Wish you lluck, too It's been d-nm tricky on my end

She has another round if antibiotic tomarrow and that always complicates it.

 

[WilliamC]

None of this had any effect.
I have resorted to Acidified Copper Sulfate. There is a post in BYC about this. Another person had the same problem with nothing at all working.
Butters comb is drooping and getting pale. She does drink but i think nothing is passing from her crop, she is pooing a bit so its trying.

1/4tsp dissolved in warm water. Added to 1 Gallon on water.
Added one TSP of ACV.

There was no dosing recommendations that i found for one hen. So i slowly syringed her 1cc. Massaged her crop, massive burps. I gave her a bit of liquid anti-gas used for babies.
After a VERY long, rainy, traffic filled trip home its time to put her to bed and pray.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

None of this had any effect.
I have resorted to Acidified Copper Sulfate. There is a post in BYC about this. Another person had the same problem with nothing at all working.
Butters comb is drooping and getting pale. She does drink but i think nothing is passing from her crop, she is pooing a bit so its trying.

1/4tsp dissolved in warm water. Added to 1 Gallon on water.
Added one TSP of ACV.

There was no dosing recommendations that i found for one hen. So i slowly syringed her 1cc. Massaged her crop, massive burps. I gave her a bit of liquid anti-gas used for babies.
After a VERY long, rainy, traffic filled trip home its time to put her to bed and pray.

Prayers!

We are in the process of doing the Acidified Copper Sulfate via syringe (as no info on dosing other than "their water" but I'm not keeping our hen separate, she does better with her sisters)

I did add some of the ACS to feed to make it mash and she ate it with some egg. She was too spunky for me to hold and syringe lol (good sign but oye lol)

It's been a while since I've read your thread, have you tried Nutridrench Poultry?

 

[WilliamC]

Prayers!

We are in the process of doing the Acidified Copper Sulfate via syringe (as no info on dosing other than "their water" but I'm not keeping our hen separate, she does better with her sisters)

I did add some of the ACS to feed to make it mash and she ate it with some egg. She was too spunky for me to hold and syringe lol (good sign but oye lol)

It's been a while since I've read your thread, have you tried Nutridrench Poultry?

Oh she fights me, but her comb is very droopy so i am thinking dehydration. I have her the ACS an hour ago, let her sit to watch her, put her in her cage(shes inside) and burped her crop.
I have some Rooster Booster Poultry Cell i am going to use in the morning to give her a boost of nutrients.

 

[Yellow321]

None of this had any effect.
I have resorted to Acidified Copper Sulfate. There is a post in BYC about this. Another person had the same problem with nothing at all working.
Butters comb is drooping and getting pale. She does drink but i think nothing is passing from her crop, she is pooing a bit so its trying.

1/4tsp dissolved in warm water. Added to 1 Gallon on water.
Added one TSP of ACV.

There was no dosing recommendations that i found for one hen. So i slowly syringed her 1cc. Massaged her crop, massive burps. I gave her a bit of liquid anti-gas used for babies.
After a VERY long, rainy, traffic filled trip home its time to put her to bed and pray.

Fingers crossed! Keep us updated. I'm dealing with sort of the same thing and have ACS ordered waiting for it to be delivered. I hope yours works and gives me hope!

 

[WilliamC]

Everything still there this morning, but she did poo a bit and it was very dark and sludgy showing that the antibiotic is being absorbed. Her bowels are moving, just the crud in her crop wont.

SO this has been an issue since Friday. I made up an Epsom salt flush. This has worked before for me.
She is very alert and engaged but pale, droopy comb. Losing muscle mass.

I did 1/4tsp in 1 once of warm electrolyte water and added 1CC of Rooster Booster in it along with the Fluconazole and 1CC of the ACS.(I read some minerals can make it not work as well but.....)
I know its a shotgun approach but im watching her decline.

Thinking it was less likely to collapse, I put my more stiff tube into her crop in an attempt to draw out what was in there with my big syringe. I pulled WAY back but it wouldn't draw. The tube was just too thin. I inserted my usual tube and injected the solution. Massaged and burped well.
Looking at the other tube i did draw some up but it plugged the tube. It was whiteish with the consistency of mashed potatoes. I couldnt bring myself to try to smell it.

She is in her bed in front of the TV watching YouTube chicken TV.