Unsecure chicken perches

[staceychristie]

Peggy (Special needs Battery rescue hen - never really laid) has a blocked crop. We've tried most things, Live maggots, white paraffin, olive oil, and warm water. For a few days we've kept her in the kitchen, to avoid her eating grass, and stop the other 3 trying to attack her as she's not very fast at the mo. Restricted her just to normal pellets/grit which she's not eating.

She's lost a bit of weight, and last time she saw the vet it was for white runny poo, which she still has. He gave her Synulox which she had for 7days.

We think she's on the slide, and haven't got many answers now. Vet opens tomorrow, but we just keep warm water and massage every hour in the hope it'll break down.

It's not hard like impacted crop, and doesn't smell bad breath like sour crop.

Any help please? Thanks.

 

Stacey X

[sandyhas3chucks]

A crop not moving (in Stasis) is often as a result of something else.

With ex bats this something is often (not always) due to something blocking up the oviduvct.

you say never really laid?

does she or has she been going to the nest at all?

I would get some nutri drops think pets at home sell them,and some animal feeds places. This would give her a boost of vitamins till the vet.

The synulox is the right antibiotic for anything stuck in her oviduct but the dose is very high as of a dog?

Critical care formular good too. try her with anything really to eat for strength.

If her crop is not moving it aught to be sour or going?

The wet poo could be any bacteria and only changing anti biotic and getting an imprivement would tell other than a test which would take till thursday now for a result.

My exbats often have meat lumps aka lashes stuck, my Vet is ace at getting them out as long as they are far enough down.... if your vet does not feel internally maybe ask them too???

you dont say how long free and I see you are aware of the time

Do feel free to email me as this will go straight to my phone, if you want support, you seem to have covered the basics... good luck.

My friends non ex bat had a blocked crop that in the end after weeks of all sorts need operating on (awake and not hard) happily this sorted her .

[staceychristie]

Thanks for the reply. She'd lay a shell or no egg (like a deflated balloon, or an egg and no shell, or a lash. That's why she's 'special needs'

The vet (does poultry and birds of prey ) did stick his finger up her bum, and she promptly pooed over his hand and thermometer (snigger)

We're just doing warm water and massage now. We've got some 'Boost-X' which has got some of them through some tough times.

The poo was white, and had no black in it at all, however it did start to form properly a few days ago, but now back to just white runny.

Thanks for your help, we'll keep you posted.

 

Stacey X

[Egluntyne]

It could be that she has a blockage in her gut, below the crop, possibly either a foreign body or a tumour (not uncommon). Hope she improves.

[staceychristie]

She's rattling a bit when breathing (she'd been given a few squirts of water, as she's not drank today - and we did get it over her tongue and into her crop). She's in a box in the downstairs loo, warm and comfy. Vets first thing (if she's still here in the morning). Thanks

 

Stacey X

[The Dogmother]

It could be that she has a blockage in her gut, below the crop, possibly either a foreign body or a tumour (not uncommon). Hope she improves.

 

I agree, that's usually the cause of persistent crop blockages and a failure to thrive.

 

I would keep her off food for a couple of days but support her with syringed warm water containing Nutridrops or Life-Guard, see if that will empty it, then re-introduce light food if she improves.

[sandyhas3chucks]

FtJust to add that a blockage in the oviduct especially in ex bats has the same effect sadly. Although the vets not really sure why this should be so as a blockage. In in the digestive tract does not stop the eggs passing throught the oviduct. My friends bless her laid an egg whilst having that awake. Operation to clear her blocked crop .

[staceychristie]

Thanks for your help and advise. The vet said he'd be able to clear the crop (£60 - £80!!!!), but it would probably reoccur. We think she's too light, and would probably not come back from the op. PTS option still available.

She's only eating live maggots. However, she's still perky, tail up, and running with (or away from) the other girls. They've tried to jump her, but I've pointed my 'naughty finger' at them, and they've retreated.

I'm happy that she's no longer sliding off, and starting to improve a bit.

Will keep you posted. Thanks again.

 

Stacey x

[sandyhas3chucks]

Each case different but just wanted to say we thought the same with betty but months later she is perfect. Depends in the why. We muddled about week's before with this and that VET did op with just local. I held betty as her mum squeemish

[The Dogmother]

staceychristie, is she pooing still? If she is then that would indicate that there's less likely to be an intestinal blockage further down her system. So long as you keep her fluids up and she is eating something (avoid anything glutinous such as bread) then she should remain stable. You will notice soon enough if she goes off and needs to be despatched.