Young Hen in serious condition

[CapricornFarm]

I think you should check her crop I found out today that if the crop is like swelled that the chicken has like an egg stopped up there. Hope the chicken feels better soon!!

What does the crop have to do with eggs? That is where the chicken grinds its food.

 

[HeiHeisMom]

What does the crop have to do with eggs? That is where the chicken grinds its food.

If a hen gets egg bound she can not process food... digestion stops and her crop can sour if it gets stopped up especially when full. Hens cannot vomit on their own.
They'll just be miserable and get sicker from spoiling mash.

 

[chickenMamee]

Okay, so now I’m at a point of not knowing what to do anymore. She only has eaten once and that was Sat. I think. She’s got no body fat, he eyes seem a little wild looking if that makes sense and I’ve offered every food I can think of. Egg, oatmeal, chick crumbles,berries etc. Zero interest. She’s not pooping but just has yellowish liquid drops. She can stand for short periods. I’m scared to tube feed her because I think it probably would kill her but she’s basically starving.
I’ve been praying for her and for guidance on what my next step is. I feel like I need to do something but at a loss. She hasn’t given up but it seems to be inevitable that she’s going to pass.
I think I should put her down but at the same time I hear miracles from others.
I need some wisdom please.

 

[Eggcessive]

Well, it sounds like you either need to tube feed her or just put her down. I would understand if you put her down, but I would get a necropsy done. This is just my opinion, but when I have a hen who absolutely will not eat or drink, even my best tempting foods like egg or canned cat food, they have something wrong internally, and I do not tube them. That could be tumors in the crop, gizzard, or intestines, or there is a blockage of the abdominal organs not allowing the digestive tract to work.

I have tube fed, and it is easy to learn, and it only takes a couple of minutes to feed a meal of 30-45 ml of watery feed. You can get some air aquarium tubing from the fish aisle at Walmart, and a large 35 ml syringe from a feed store. The tubing needs to be cut off in a 10-12 inch length, and take a lighter to soften the sharp edges that go into the throat.

This small tubing will work for very watery feed, raw egg, yogurt and medicines to pass through. Ideally a proper feeding tube and catheter tipped syringe can be bought from a vet or online, that will allow feeding of thicker foods. This is a good thread for learning to tube feed:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/updated-go-team-tube-feeding.805728/

 

[Eggcessive]

This picture of the inside of the beak shows where to insert the feeding tube—down the right side of the chicken’s throat to the esophagus or food tube. Avoid the trachea or airway, the circular opening at the base of the tongue.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm so sorry that she is getting worse

I understand it's heartbreaking to see her like this and you are trying to do everything you can for her.
I agree, either tube/syringe her or put her down. I have never tubed before so follow the posts above. I have syringed fluids, if you have a small syringe, it's easy to do as shown in the photo.

I am not opposed to tubing, but I too, evaluate a sick chicken daily. Sometimes by the hour, if they are not improving and I can't get them to rally fairly quickly, I put them out of their misery. I do care very deeply for each of my chickens, it's not something I like to do, but if they are clearly suffering, then it's my job to see it out to the end.

 

[Eggcessive]

It is always heartbreaking when you have been caring for a loved chicken, and nothing seems to help. I have been treating a sick hen for almost 6 weeks now, but lucky for me, she has eaten very well, almost everything I have offered. Since your chicken is so young, and has stopped laying prematurely, I would be interested in finding out what was bothering her. It is our duty to not let them suffer, so when that time comes that they are not responding to our care, then I put them down and feel I have helped them to not suffer anymore.

 

[chickenMamee]

If a hen gets egg bound she can not process food... digestion stops and her crop can sour if it gets stopped up especially when full. Hens cannot vomit on their own.
They'll just be miserable and get sicker from spoiling mash.

Well, it sounds like you either need to tube feed her or just put her down. I would understand if you put her down, but I would get a necropsy done. This is just my opinion, but when I have a hen who absolutely will not eat or drink, even my best tempting foods like egg or canned cat food, they have something wrong internally, and I do not tube them. That could be tumors in the crop, gizzard, or intestines, or there is a blockage of the abdominal organs not allowing the digestive tract to work.

I have tube fed, and it is easy to learn, and it only takes a couple of minutes to feed a meal of 30-45 ml of watery feed. You can get some air aquarium tubing from the fish aisle at Walmart, and a large 35 ml syringe from a feed store. The tubing needs to be cut off in a 10-12 inch length, and take a lighter to soften the sharp edges that go into the throat.

This small tubing will work for very watery feed, raw egg, yogurt and medicines to pass through. Ideally a proper feeding tube and catheter tipped syringe can be bought from a vet or online, that will allow feeding of thicker foods. This is a good thread for learning to tube feed:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/updated-go-team-tube-feeding.805728/

She’s the same young hen that I’ve been trying to help for almost a week. She’s not laid an egg since March 20th and hasn’t had much improvement at all if any since her symptoms started. I think she’s got some reproductive issues because of her early laying of just 4 months of age. She only 5 months now and she was a healthy happy hen until this. I don’t know if feeding her is going to make her improve or help her internal issues. I want to do the right thing but I don’t know the answer.

 

[chickenMamee]

I'm so sorry that she is getting worse

I understand it's heartbreaking to see her like this and you are trying to do everything you can for her.
I agree, either tube/syringe her or put her down. I have never tubed before so follow the posts above. I have syringed fluids, if you have a small syringe, it's easy to do as shown in the photo.

I am not opposed to tubing, but I too, evaluate a sick chicken daily. Sometimes by the hour, if they are not improving and I can't get them to rally fairly quickly, I put them out of their misery. I do care very deeply for each of my chickens, it's not something I like to do, but if they are clearly suffering, then it's my job to see it out to the end.

I know! It just sucks! I’m going to syringe her some liquid/chick crumbles or raw egg. I sure hope it helps her. Yes, it’s my job but it sur can be a difficult decision to make. Thnk you

 

[chickenMamee]

She’s the same young hen that I’ve been trying to help for almost a week. She’s not laid an egg since March 20th and hasn’t had much improvement at all if any since her symptoms started. I think she’s got some reproductive issues because of her early laying of just 4 months of age. She only 5 months now and she was a healthy happy hen until this. I don’t know if feeding her is going to make her improve or help her internal issues. I want to do the right thing but I don’t know the answer.

I just syringe fed her raw egg. Thank you for the push I needed! Sometimes I get paralyzed with the fear of the unknown I guess. I’m going to wait a few hours and see how she’s feeling and feed her more of the egg. Hopefully this can help her start to recover or at least give me an idea of what to do next.