klmpink Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Hi all I am still a relatively new chicken keeper and am quite worried about my chicken Ethel. Ethel is the leader of the pack and into everything, she is a trooper and has never been ill. All this changed on Sunday afternoon when I noticed that she was sat under a bush all puffed up and appeared to be sleeping all afternoon. Gertie my other chicken has occassionally done this and passed a softie. So I figured Ethel was also having a softie moment. The next morning, I noticed a large splat of largely fluid poo where she slept and she was still all puffed up. At lunch time she passed a softie and seemed to perk up a little. Since then she has not gone back to her normal inquisitive self, she stands tall, but her chest seems to be extended and her neck is fluffed up and short, her tail feathers are down. She is moving around, but not a huge amount she does stand in the same place which she wouldnt do if she was ok. She has eaten some meal worm and some porridge, but not attacked them as vigirously as she would normally do. I havent seen her drink or eat her pellets (i am out at work all day so she may have!). Last night she went into her bed and I shut the door and had a feel of her crop, she wasnt impressed (she isnt a fan of being handled generally) and to me it felt hard, she kept trying to get away and I couldnt tell if she was in discomfort from me touching it, or it was more that fact I was touching her,as she isnt a fan of being handled. I have been reading in my books that it may be a compacted crop particulary as they have been freeranging on long grass (which I now realise is a mistake!). I started a worming treatment on Sunday (flubvenet) as their bottoms were looking a bit mucky and I also powdered them with DE as they seemed to be scratching/pruning themselves more than usual (a bit traumatic for them as I had to catch them and apply it). So they have have been through it a bit this week. It has obviously been a couple of days now and she isnt back to normal so I need to do something, and I'm wondering if more experienced chicken keepers can offer an advice of what it could be and next steps? I was thinking of buying a syringe today and trying the whole warm water/olive oil massaging the crop step. I wont be home until late tonight and was wondering if doing it whilst she was sleepy would be ok or if I should wait until the morning? Any advice appreciated! Thanks Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Have you listened to her breathing and felt her abdomen for other problems? Sounds as though some of the long grass may well be taking a time to get through. You need to feel the crop in the morning to see if it's empty rather than at night. However, I would give her the olive oil and gentle massage when you get home it won't do any harm and could help her produce better eggs. If her crops empty in the morning I would pop her to the vet if she's still unwell to check for other problems. I would also carry on worming but if she's not eating she won't be getting a therapuetic dose so maybe repeat in a while if in doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmpink Posted May 17, 2012 Author Share Posted May 17, 2012 Thanks for your reply Plum, her breathing seemed fine but I havent checked her all over. I have just bought a couple of syringes so will, give her some olive oil this evening and hope for some improvement otherwise it will be off to the vet tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 i would hold off on the oil until you know it is not empty in the morning. it is perfecty normal for it to breg big and hardish in the evening. It could be a few other things other than grass... Having been struggling myself with a crop issue for a few weeks now, I should have done something sooner. That is sent the poo Sample off to Retfords. The antibiotics the vets prescribe in the first instance are just ot effective to what my girl has. This can save a few quid to start with... £24 less a worm count as already treated for... As it happens I have the correct drug here so no added cost there. kjust I wont simple chuck an antibiotic down a girl with out consulting a vet or getting a test done first. good luck but hopefully it is empty in the morning .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmpink Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share Posted May 19, 2012 Hi Sandy I didn't see your response until today. I ended up taking her to the vet on Friday and he said it wasn't a crop issue. He examined here closely and said he thought it was some kind of infection and injected her with antibiotics and gave me some antibiotics to mix with their water. Two days later and she still is not herself, she was eating and drinking a bit today and her tail is sometimes up (but mostly down) and she still spends a lot of time just standing in one place. Wondering how long these antibiotics take to work as she has now been off colour for a week which is worrying, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I think you can usually see some improvement with antibiotics after 48 hours, if they are working. Is she drinking enough to get a therapeutic dose? Was the vet knowlegable about chickens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Vet? Fred? I have had one take nearly a week and the day I thought I would have to take her to be pts she bounced out in the morning. The I have only say I share your worry when I don't see any improvement in 3days.. It does depend on what they have wrong.. Just lost one with tumour.. Got 3 other old girls all a tad iffy.. One with eggy issues. The one with mystery one a huge girl I suspect is simply on her last legs.. Got my own seat in thecwaiting room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmpink Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share Posted May 19, 2012 thats good to know thank you! the vet was one of the ones recommended on here and he certainly knew his away around a chicken but he couldn't give a firm diagnosis. she was drinking today, more than i saw gertie my other chicken drink so hopefully she will have got enough. fingers crossed for some improvement tomorrow its just such a worry when they aren't their normal cheeky selves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 We are both in Surrey.. I was at vet Friday and they had had loads in that day.. He is on here. But never known him give powder anti biotic so far. Tylan I expect.. I think it does takeclonger for antibiotics in water and it is good shechas been drinkinking it as I find ofen they don't and you worry they haven't had any. Fingers crossed.. It is very often hard for vets to be positive as symptoms are often the same. Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
