Chicken picking at feet

[Biker Betty]

Well I managed to get my little girl (Coco) to the vets last night - for once the vet was lovely about it all. I think I've found a particualrly good one at the surgery - she is the first vet which has suggested some sort of care for her too and she didn't mention putting to sleep once!

 

Unfortunately, she doesn't think there's a massive amount she can personally do - apparently there is a technique for putting them to sleep and squeezing it up their necks to get all the rubbish out of her crop. She has tried it twice before with instructions from an avian specialist but without much success - she said she's happy to have another go but is not sure how she'll get on. Otherwise, she's advised me to take her to this specialist who will apparently be able to sort it out - but he is a long way away.

 

After discussion with her, we decided that the best course of action was to continue with the massaging over the weekend when I can spend more time doing it etc and if she's no better next week, we'll take more drastic action. I'd rather not aneasthetise her unless absolutely necessary so I think I'm happiest with this solution. She also gave me some antibiotics to stop any souring of the crop.

 

So, I'm a little happier with vets today - she made me feel a lot better about it all and really seemed to care about my little girl.

 

On the plus side, the lump seems to have changed consistency a little and there are some gurgling noises now when I massage - so I'm going to cross my fingers that it's starting to ease a little. I've left her snoozing in a box this morning - she had a late night last night and I don't want her to eat anything other than the apple at the moment. I'll go and see to her at lunchtime.

 

Some useful info for anyone else looking at this - the vet told me to use liquid parafin, she can keep having this as it's an inert substance and will not adversely affect her health - much better than olive oil apparently.

 

She had never heard of the live maggots thing and said I should probably stop on that for the time being. I'm sure the others will happily help me to get rid of them! Not sure what to do on that one?

[The Dogmother]

Fingers crossed that your massaging will help.

 

TBH, squeezing it out isn't really a good idea as chooks don't have a gag reflex, so are likely to inhale it Most avian vets would suggest operating to clear the blockage, but then you need to bear in mind that birds don't take too well to GAs.

 

It's odd that she prescribed antibiotics to prevent sour crop - it's not an infection caused by bacteria; it's a fungal infestation rather like thrush. The best treatment is ACV in the water, and a feed of Bokashi Bran with live yoghurt if you can get that into her.

 

Fingers crossed for Coco.

[Biker Betty]

Thanks Claret.

 

I don't know if this vet knows too much about chickens - but I think she was just giving the antibiotics as a preventative in any case. I'm just glad a vet is taking me seriously for once!

 

The squeezing it out thing is also done under GA apparently - so either way we'd be putting her under. So that's why I've decided to continue with the massaging.

 

I did notie a bit of solid poo that she'd done last night - so she must be getting something into her system at least.

 

I am just feeding her cooked apple (with a bit of sugar in it - it's really sour apple otherwise) with live yoghurt and garlic in it now.

 

Her breath smells of garlic a lot though!

 

She is drinking loads too - I'm giving her water with yoghurt in it so that she is rehydrated and getting some sort of nutrient too.

 

I've got some bokashi bran - should I be giving her that too? I thought it best to keep her away from any sort of solid food for now.

[The Dogmother]

I see your concern, but Bokashi Bran is loaded with probiotics and always seems to work. If it's any help, my chicken vet recommends it, and also ACV in the water.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I worried too and stayed off it for a bit, but I feel that this weekend you will be able to judge the whole thing a lot better.

I was surprised at antibiotics in case of sour crop also, as I understood it the AB can cause sour crop after treatments anyway? but you could get some oral daktarin OTC (not licensed for poultry) "just in case".

The maggots work in 2 ways (I am told they don't eat but am not convinced on that) but what is obvious is easy to see if you drop the nastys is that they like to burrow down, this splits the mass up and helps disperse it, a lot of people have successfully treated with just maggots apple & yogurt.

There is also a laxative that Retfords supplied for a crop, but cannot recall the name, but ist gas a slightly different action than the liquid paraffin. So there is something else you can try if all else is failing. (It was;t very lo mg ago it was posted so maybe you can search it if you need it.

Citricidal is also meant to be good at preventing a crop from souring after antibiotics.

still all crosed here for you

[Biker Betty]

Thank you guys - something seems to be making a slight difference - I doubt that anyone else in the world would see it but because I've been so regularly massaging here etc, I'm convinced there has been a slight change. (I hope it's not just a case of wishful thinking!)

 

She has done a couple of slightly more solid poos - and without the green this time which means that something is going through her. She is eating/drinking really well on a very wet mixture (almost totally liquid) of cooked apple, yoghurt and garlic mixed together with lots of water. I've been giving her liquid parafin at least 3 times a day and lots and lots of massages. As I massage, I can feel the lump reduce in size and hear lots of gurgling. The lump's consistency has changed too - although when I first go to her it is still quite stiff, it gets soft really quickly now and I can't feel the individual pellets like I could before.

 

I may introduce a little bran later on today and see how she goes with that but she has the yoghurt for probiotic at the moment anyway.

 

I'm more hopeful now than I was a couple of days ago- Certainly nothing is souring at the moment and she is still exceptionally perky - and I think she's starting to quite enjoy the massages!

[sandyhas3chucks]

keep up the good work here's hoping

[Biker Betty]

Well good news this evening - her lump is almost gone! There's still some stuff there but it's a quarter of the size that it was! I actually struggled to get hold of enough to massage thos evening.

 

I'm hoping that when I get her in the morning, it will have reduced entirely.

 

Who knows what actually worked but I think that all the massages must've helped a lot - it seems that yet again, the best medicine is lots of patience, TLC and the wonderful advice that I get on here.

 

I'm going to keep her on soft stuff for a few more days - she's still quite disinterested in normal food at the moment anyway - but I may treat her to a little weetabix for breakfast tomorrow.

 

I will confirm when her lump disappears completely but just wanted to thank you all again for your encouragement and support.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

BB, I've just caught up with this I'm so glad to hear things are improving, I had a broody mum, Buffie, who was given Baytril for a suspected infection & went on to develop a rotten case of impacted crop which I massaged for well over a week, maybe even two ...the silly girl was being such a good mum, she was feeding the babies to her own cost, she was in effect starving herself..............long emotional story cut short, she's now back with the big girls and is so much healthier...she has had one bout of IC since which I treated with olive oil, apple sauce, massage and enough maggots to catch a shoal of fish .....it cleared within 2 days......I firmly recommend the maggots, disgusting, revolting little darlings that they are

 

Sha x

[The Dogmother]

That's brilliant news BB. Just keep an eye on her now as she may be more susceptible to it; the crop is a baggy bag with quite thin walls, which is kept in place by a thin layer of chest muscles. If it gets distended on a regular basis, then the crop will go baggy and lose tone, making it easier for it to overfill.

[Biker Betty]

I most certainly will keep an eye on her - the lump was about the size of a walnut this morning - whoch considering it was almost tennis ball size at one time, is a fantatsic improvement. She seemed more interested in food too this morning.

 

I have put her back in with the others today - she will have access to layers mash but I felt that she's better off trying back in her own environment - I will massage her tonight and will probably keep doing so to help stimulate the muscles etc and to ensure she can digest the food overnight.

 

Thanks once again for all your help and advice.

[The Dogmother]

You might want to try chopping (finely) up or grating some veg like carrots, marrows, swedes etc and adding them to the feed; they will act like co"Ooops, word censored!" roughage and stop the crop from binding up so easily. ACV in the water on a regular basis will help to maintain gut flora and prevent sour crop starting up.

 

Rough liquidising of the veg is fine if that's easier for you.

[sandyhas3chucks]

yay, brilliant news.

Claret hope you are following, don't want to hijack thread but I have 1 who is a REAL guts, and always has an enormous crop. at bed time, is this likely to be a prpblem for her in the future?

[The Dogmother]

Not necessarily, but it's no coincidence that it's more prevalent in hybrids, which eat more, then in pure breeds, who gorge less. The more the crop is stretched, the less elastic it becomes and it then doesn't empty so well. I wouldn't worry too much Sandy, just look to see if it empties in the morning and keep her off stringy grass.

[Biker Betty]

I frequently feed them veg - boiled up and mashed.. I'm always hesitant to do it with their main food in the morning though as I thought they might pick it out and not get enough of their proper food. I've always reserved anything other than pellets or meal as an afternoon treat.

 

Would you recommend that it's ok to give them veg and fruit in with their feed in the mornings then? It would certainly make their food a bit more appealing for them wouldn't it?

 

Mine aren't very good at eating their always readily available grit (probably started this all in the first place) so this might help.

 

I am giving them ACV in their water anyway. I just use organic cider vinegar - isn't all cider vinegar made of apples?

[Biker Betty]

Oh and I meant to say - is there something good I can feed her to start building her up a bit again? She's looking a bit on the skinny side since not being able to eat properly.

[The Dogmother]

Try giving her some meal worms, live if you can get them - they are full of protein and brilliant for them.

 

I would recommend raw veg if possible, to retain as much of the natural fibre as possible. You are right to make sure that they eat mostly pellets, but a wee bit of veg won't hurt.

[Biker Betty]

I do have a cabbage or corn on the cob or something dangling in the coop pretty often - they can devour a whole head of brocoli or cauliflower in about 2 hours flat! Its a bit of amusement for them during the day too then.

 

I had never thought of grating it in their food though - I will try that.

 

Its mainly peelings I boil and mash up really - usually after a roast or something.

[Biker Betty]

Oh and the meal worms (dried) are a definite regular treat - they absolutely love them and now know the sound of the tub...

 

I will be sure to give her a few extra of those.

[sandyhas3chucks]

aren't oats /corn etc good for weight gain?

What about wax worms seen them advertised lately??????

[Biker Betty]

100% lump free tonight!! Yippee!

 

I don't think I'd have done it without your help - thank you once again.

 

I haven't heard of wax worms but they do love a bit of porridge - so I think a warm breakfast treat might be in order this week - i've got another moulting as well so they could probably all do with a bit extra for these wintery nights.

 

In the meantime, I've left Coco munching on some meal worms - she said to say thank you as well!

 

Bxx

[Jools]

Well done for persevering with her, it just shows what can be done when you put your mind to it.

[Biker Betty]

Thank you Jools - as I said in a previous reply - TLC really is often the best medicine for these girls.

[The Dogmother]

aren't oats /corn etc good for weight gain?

 

They are, but it will be fat that she gains, not muscle/meat. You'd be best off with meal worms or putting her on some growers pellets for a bit.

[Biker Betty]

Don't worry, everything in moderation - I'm quite mean with my treats really. I gave them a bowl of porridge this morning for which they were very grateful and gobbled it all up straight away. They haven't really had any treats for a couple of weeks now because I've been careful with their food and they've been on a very plain diet. So I figured they deserved it. It will not be a regular thing though.

 

They also had a big bowl of meal/pellets with grated turnip and some meal worms.

 

So I reckon they'll be ok with all that!