Nature Chick Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 (edited) Hi Hattie has been under the weather for 10 days now . She stopped laying a week last wednesday and has been hunched and pale but still eating and drinking. A week ago we took her to the vet who could find nothing wrong but prescribed 7 days of Baytril. Hattie now has her colour back and is a bit less puffed up and occaisionally her tail is up! She still isn't laying so whatever is wrong is taking a long time to clear up. Her last Baytril is tonight so fingers crossed she continues to improve. Over the last few days however there has been the most revolting, stinky dark liquid in their poo tray - I have a strong stomach when it comes to these things but this is particularly nasty!! I have been washing the poo tray daily to get rid of it - I presume it is coming from Hattie's rear end - any ideas what it is? Also, is there anything I can give her to speed up her recovery? Someone recommended marmite - how should I give this to her? Any advice gratefully received!!!! Thanks S An update - Hattie is having an operation this morning to empty her crop as the vet thinks there is a physical blockage. Fingers crossed she survives the anaesthetic Edited August 4, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Does she have a squishy crop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Chick Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 Funnily enough I thought the other day that her crop was a bit squishy - do you think she might have a problem with her crop??? Thank you for your help s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Have a look at Sour Crop Here It is possible that it is the smelly fluid from her crop in your poo tray. Worth ruling it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Chick Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 Do you think I should take her to the vets tonight? Have just been looking at the link you sent me and I am worried as it sounds serious. Just my luck, my husband isn't home until late tonight and I don't think that I would be confidend up-ending her on my own. I will be home at 5 so would be time nip round the corner to the vet. I can't think what else the dark fluid could be......although I haven't noticed bad breath when I have been giving her her baytril but I was probably holding my breath as I was concentrating!!! Should I ask for an anti-fungal treatment? My vets are really nice but not entirely sure they know everything about hens!!!! Thanks again S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Have a feel of the crop, if it feels squishy and fluid filled it is probably a good idea to take her to the vets. You can try treating her yourself but it can be dangerous if you don't feel confident. If you are unsure of your vets knowledge then phone ahead and advise them that you think it might be sour crop. Ask the person booking you in to pass this information to the vet. This way they can do their research before you get there if they need to It could be something else entirely though so if her crop feels normal it is back to the drawing board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Chick Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 Thanks again - I will call them now. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Chick Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 I took Hattie to the vets this evening. The vet doesn't think that it is sour crop - I took a sample of the stinky liquid and he said that by the smell it looks like it is from her bottom not her mouth!! Also apart from a squishy crop she has no other symptoms apart from being a bit under the weather. He recommended keeping an eye on her and finish the Baytril. To help sort out her squishy crop to give her yoghurt and Epsom salts dissolved in water once a day. Can anyone recommend anything else I can try to help her bounce back? Thanks again S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 I would ask your vet to send the sample to the lab for examination. It's not cheap but at least you'll get the right treatment if it's indicated. They will test for fungal, parasites, protazoa and bacterial, viral infections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Chick Posted July 29, 2010 Author Share Posted July 29, 2010 Hi again Hattie has continued to improve and had the last Baytril yesterday. We have been giving her yoghurt which she has enjoyed and is nearly always 'tail-up' now! There are still some wet droppings in the poo tray, no sign of any of the stinky liquid anymore. The few harder droppings are long and thin with lots of grass and some undigested corn - is this okay? Is this what has been making her poorly and now it has passed through? Fingers crossed she is on the mend - would like her to lay an egg so that I am sure she is better!!! Thanks again for your help and advice S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Chick Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 Hattie stopped laying 3 weeks ago and ever since has had her tail down and hunched shoulders. 2 weeks ago I took her to the vet who could find nothing wrong apart from she was a bit thin. Gave her 7 days Baytril. Hattie showed some improvement but still tail down and the appeared stinky dark brown liquid in poo tray and some droppings with undigested food. So one week ago she went back to the vet (different vet this time) who felt that her crop was slightly squishy and a bit distended but no symptoms of sour crop. Didn't want to give her stronger drugs so advised I use up the rest of the Baytril (she had 10 days in all) and give her some live yoghurt. Followed instructions and she made a slight improvement. We have just got back from a weekend away and she is sitting in the corner of the run on her own and when she does get up she is hunched with tail down Her crop is a bit squishy (not much more than her sisters though). Apart from that I can't find anything wrong. There are some loose, slightly grey droppings in the poo tray but apart from that, her hunched and tail down and the lack of eggs I can't see what can be wrong. I am so upset that I can't seem to help her. I am not sure what the point of taking her back to the vets is as they obviously don't know what is wrong with her. I can't get her to eat marmite (stirred some through some pellets) and am at my wits end. Don't want to have her PTS but she is obviously not feeling good. Any ideas S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 merged with previous topic running regarding this chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 What about ringing Retfords in Nottingham and you can send a sample for analysis so she gets the right treatment. Retford Poultry Partnership. Unit 5 Stirling Road, West Carr Road Industrial Estate, Retford Nottingham DN22 7SN. 01777 703011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Chick Posted August 3, 2010 Author Share Posted August 3, 2010 Thanks for your advice. I tested her crop first thing this morning and it was full (the other girls' were empty) so I presume there is a blockage somewhere. I am taking her to the vets this evening to have her crop emptied (we tried this morning but nothing happened so we thought we would seek professional help!) Hopefully this is the problem and we can get her on the road to recovery as she is alarmingly thin now and starting to lose feathers thanks again S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
