ClaudetteDay Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 for the past week my ex batt, dolly, hasn't been in the best of shape. for the past year or so since we've had them her health has been constantly going up and down, however, yesterday things took a turn to the worst - she was throwing up fluid. got an emergency vet out and they gave her an antibiotic and some metacam (had a very high temperature). she suggested we feed her some yoghurt, which is something we're still yet to do and what's preventing us from doing it, is due to the fact that her crop has tripled in size. at first we thought she had come down with a little cold from standing in her run in the cold weather (a bad habit of hers), as she showed the usual signs being rather lethargic, not drinking or eating very much, runny poos and tail down - and an antibiotic always sorts this problem out. although we have doubts this has anything to do with her bad condition, dolly also hasn't laid an egg in a good few months. however, she's a very old chicken and we just came to the conclusion she's menopausal ? now...what's interesting is a day or so before dolly's health started to rapidly decline, my mum had fed her something she's never eaten before - quorn - which dolly lapped up to our belief. a lot of people are highly allergic to this stuff -ironically, my mum being one of them- and my instant thought was perhaps this is to blame? maybe she's having a hard time digesting it? my mum always suffers from similar symtoms to what dolly has whenever she eats the stuff. regardless, she's in an awful state. the poor thing is just sitting on our sofa sleeping, and rather continuously bobbing her head all over the place (she was doing this yesterday), obviously to try and throw up the fluid or possibly whatever is stuck in her crop. we're pretty positive she's on her last legs but we're wanting to do everything we can to help her until tomorrow morning when we get her seen to. she's our favourite chicken out of the three and to see her go would be absolutely devastating, and since this is our first flock her death will have a huge impact on us any advice? has anyone experienced from this in the past with their chickens? thanks a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Hi, she sounds like a very poorly chicken indeed. I am so sorry and am thinking of you. I can't really advise about the quorn issue, but it sounds as if she has a blocked / sour crop (maybe secondary to an infection). There are things that can be done about the crop problem (e.g. massaging the blockage and lubricating it) but since you're planning to take her to the vet tomorrow, I would leave things be, and avoid stressing her out too much. For now, it sounds like you are doing the right thing by bringing her in and keeping her in the warm. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I agree. I think you are doing everything you can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudetteDay Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 thank you so much, appreciate it a lot. i forgot to mention the infection dolly could possibly have. i just hope she pulls through but things aren't looking all that great. thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memphisto Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I am so sorry to hear you have a poorly chicken, she does sound very poorly indeed. I was reading an article on sour crop and massaging it to break it down but I'm not a vet but I would give her the TLC you are giving her and wait to see the vet in the morning. Hugs to you both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I agree with the others - she is obviously very poorly and I doubt that there is much you can do to improve her condition tonight, so I would just keep her somewhere warm and quiet until you can get her to the vet tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 It sounds like a very blocked crop possibly leading to sour crop If she has the sour crop you'll smell a 'beery' smell if you open her beak A drop of olive oil (use a small syringe without a needdle to drop this in to her beak) then a massage of the crop may break up the blockage enough for the crop to empty, if you cant get olive oil in to her try the massage anyway Be gentle you dont want to force food back up to her beak as she could choke I'd personally try this tonight as if it is working you'll see the crop go down overnight and so know if its likely to do the job, surgery to empty the crop may be needed if it doesnt work Hens that have had a very blocked and distended crop sometimes dont recover the elasticity of the crop and therefore are more prone to repeated problems later on so bear that in mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Sad update here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
