Grandmashazzie Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Yes sad to say it sound as if her time has come.You have done everything possible and it sounds as if there is no quality of life.Let us know how she is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igobarefoot Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 I think you're all right and we've been set all weekend to take her back to our vet one last time tomorrow. But, a bit of good news today! The live meal worms arrived yesterday and a few thrown in to her food bowl finally took her fancy this morning. And then she started eating the maggots too and has been properly tucking in for a good part of the day. The bad news is that she does now also have sour crop, I'm sure as a result of all the antibiotics she's had as well as all the syringed weetabix and critical care formula we've been giving her. Quite worried about this as I know sour crop can be fatal, especially as a secondary illness, so we're massaging her crop to get rid of the stinky gloop and giving her live natural yogurt. Do you think I need to starve her to get rid of the bad bacteria though? I'm really reluctant to do this as she's been starving herself for the last 3 weeks and there's nothing left of her, so to starve her now she's started eating feels wrong, but I am worried we won't get rid of the fungus without doing that. What do you think? Cautiously optimistic today though, not out of the woods by a long shot but it does feel like she's turned a small corner today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Gosh what a time you are having.I was thinking of her.I don't have any advice as never had sour crop,but some knowledgable person will be along.Fingers crossed for recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 What a shame, poor girl. I would try her now on Avipro. My vet recommended it some time ago and it is fine for her to have whilst she is having antibiotics. You can add it to her food or her water. It is a pre and probiotic powder with electrolytes and vitamins - good when they are stressed or have an upset tum/sour crop. The pre and probiotics will help tackle the sour crop, and it also acts as an appetite stimulant. It does say on the pot that the gut flora can be upset if an animal is being treated with antibiotics and the Avipro will correct that and rehydrate them. I have used it with my girls for a couple of years when I need to, and I can't rate it highly enough. You can get it online at various sites including amazon and ebay and it is around £7 for the pot - which lasts ages. For the interim, if you can get some live yoghurt down her, that will also help with the sour crop. If you get stuck, whatever she will eat, cover it in yoghurt! The probiotics in that will really help. Let us know how you get on and keeping everything crossed for you both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I'm glad she has eaten something at last. I hope she continues to do well and that the avipro will help her. She is obviously such a little fighter - fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igobarefoot Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 Just ordered some Avipro! She is such a dear little thing, with such a strong will to live so fingers crossed! Thanks guys, I'll keep you posted x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 If its sour crop you need to empty the crop out leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igobarefoot Posted January 27, 2014 Author Share Posted January 27, 2014 Completely empty it out? How do I do that?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 There is a section on this web page from the Little Hen Rescue (with picture) about emptying a sour crop http://www.littlehenrescue.co.uk/Pages/Medicaladvice.aspx I've never dealt with sour crop so I'm sorry I can't be more help but I remembered seeing this when looking at various health issues associated with the chooks. Keeping everything crossed for your girl x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Hi if her crop is sour it will feel like it's full of liquid and stink if it is you need to tip her up to empty but make sure you don't do it for to long as she will need to breath they she will need some medicine which I can't say what I use as its not for birds but I still think she sounds like she has had enough now and you have done all you can this is just another problem to try and cure and she sounds very weak so not sure she will recover sometimes they get to a point when you know to call it a day leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Just wondered how she was doing today? Fingers crossed for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igobarefoot Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 There is a section on this web page from the Little Hen Rescue (with picture) about emptying a sour crop http://www.littlehenrescue.co.uk/Pages/Medicaladvice.aspx I've never dealt with sour crop so I'm sorry I can't be more help but I remembered seeing this when looking at various health issues associated with the chooks. Keeping everything crossed for your girl x Thanks Claireabella, thats a great website, really useful to see how best to hold her whilst massaging the crop. I tried it today and got a lot of the stinky fluid out that I was struggling to do before. I know what you're saying Leanne, but I feel so torn about what to do for the best. She has been through so much and is very thin now and weak, but she is such a fighter and she's now recovered from her gapeworm and eye and is finally eating maggots, meal worms and sweetcorn today as well, so its tough to put her down when she seems to be coming out the other side of it. The sour crop is a real blow though, and I agree I'm not sure she's strong enough to recover from this latest thing, so we're back to the vets first thing in the morning to get his expert opinion. I'll let you know how we get on x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igobarefoot Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Poor little Olive didn't make it. We had her PTS this morning She was such a darling little girl who never even got to see a Spring. Feel so terribly sad for her and so angry at myself for not spotting the signs of the gape-worm at the very beginning. Another hard lesson learnt I guess. Thanks for all your support over the last 4 weeks x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I'm so sorry to hear about Olive. I had been keeping an eye on the forum to see how she was doing. Don't be angry at yourself, we can only ever do our best. Sending hugs your way x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Awww, poor little thing. You did your best for her. It is always hard to know when is the right time. Sending you a hug xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolly Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 So sorry to hear about Olive, you did all you could for her and please don't be angry at yourself, they hide their illnesses so well. I know how you feel as I lost my sweet Maisie (Plymouth Rock) at about the same age to Mareks, sometimes it's not meant to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 So sorry to hear your news.I too had been watching for news of her.You did everything you could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Ah sorry to hear you lost Olive RIP Olive You can feel sure that you did all you could to give her a fighting chance I know how hard it is when they have to go, especially as I lost Florence in earlier this month too. A big hug to you X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igobarefoot Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Thanks so much everyone. Yesterday was a bad day, just couldn't stop crying for her. We buried her this morning, the rain had finally stopped and the sun was out, which felt right. Really really miss her, especially as she'd been indoors with us for so long, it feels so odd without her. It really doesn't get any easier losing them does it, they really get under your skin, even after just a few months. It does really mean a lot to know you've all been there and thanks for all your advice and support, it makes such a difference to know I'm not on my own! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 So sorry to hear about Olive. You did everything you could. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choo-chook Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 So, so sorry that olive has gone, have been following your posts and hoping she made a recovery but sometimes the kindest thing is to let them go. X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 So sorry you lost her in the end, have been following your posts and keeping fingers crossed. I also lost a girl last year after a series of illness, she had a tumour in the end, it's so hard when they fight but you did all you could for her. Sending hugs xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 I am so so sorry you lost little Olive. You are right when you say they get under your skin. She had such love, care and attention from you - very very difficult to catch them early when they are ill so please don't be angry with yourself. To put that much effort into looking after Olive - she clearly had a wonderful life with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
