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[SouthDakotaLiving]

@Wyorp Rock thank you--and she does seem aware of my presence when she's not sleeping. @Eggcessive quick update as I'm re-thinking culling idea.

I've gotten 41 ml (8.3 tsp) of electrolyte water into her so far today. Either my technique has improved or she's so weak she can no longer keep her beak as closed, but either way, she's had much more fluid. Also, i discovered that I did have NutriDrench and gave her 1 ml (I think she's likely 3+ lbs). She's mostly sleeping, but she's not unconscious and rouses when I touch her. She continues to periodically make that uncomfortable crop motion, so I wonder if there's still something in there (?) despite a normal xray.

Plan was for neighbor to call me once he gets home this afternoon for the culling. I'm thinking I might wait a day on that, but eager for any input. The mere fact I can get that syringe into her mouth and that I have NutriDrench gives me just a tiny sliver of hope. But I can also just let neighbor do it today if that seems best. Hard for me to tell whether she's in distress since she's mostly sleeping, still in corner, still with head kind of buried down in the towel.

Input from anybody else who's been following along or knows about NutriDrench is welcome. I know to wait an hour to see how she reacts, and from other posts it looks like no more than once per day for full dosage straight to the beak. I'm currently giving electrolyte water (6-9 ml at a go) hourly. I could switch to doing the gallon of electrolyte water and add the appropriate amount of NutriDrench to that water if you think that makes sense.

 

[Appalachickens]

I think if she doesn't seem to be in distress, it's okay to wait a bit. When we lost a chick in each set of freshly-hatched chicks, they just quietly faded away, in spite of trying to give them NutriDrench and egg yolk. But they truly didn't seem to be suffering so I felt in their cases the kindest thing was to let them die peacefully under the brooder plate surrounded by their sisters.

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

That makes good sense. I think I read your post about that when I was researching NutriDrench. Neighbor came by to pick up my bird and I asked if we could wait until tomorrow. In Chicago's case, I'm willing to give a bit of a longer chance so long as she's mostly sleeping and in no apparent distress. These decisions are so difficult.

 

[Eggcessive]

I usually give NutriDrench orally as you have. Sometimes they won’t drink water that tastes different. I think if your neighbor will be available tomorrow, that it would be okay to wait. It is promising that she took more fluids today. That doesn’t mean that she is going to recover, but I think you need to be ready for her to go. Let us know how she is doing.

 

[Appalachickens]

That makes good sense. I think I read your post about that when I was researching NutriDrench. Neighbor came by to pick up my bird and I asked if we could wait until tomorrow. In Chicago's case, I'm willing to give a bit of a longer chance so long as she's mostly sleeping and in no apparent distress. These decisions are so difficult.

These decisions are heart-breaking.

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

Chicago is still alive but condition no different. I believe she's on her way out but would like to learn from this experience.

Palpated carefully and feel pretty sure I am feeling her crop in the correct location down low but above breast bone. I thought I was feeling this even before giving her fluids this morning, but afterward certain it is pretty full and squishy. Since yesterday she's had two doses of NutriDrench to the beak and 1.5 ml egg yolk. Plus total of 11 tsp of water via syringe. She has not had any vomiting nor has she had a bowel movement since yesterday morning's watery one.

Higher up on her neck and to the left is a hard lump about the size of a walnut. This is what I had been feeling and thinking was her crop. Over past few days since she's been ill I had not been able to feel (her "real") crop at all (suggesting it's been empty since vet on Sat) and only today am I now feeling it full and squishy as described above.

The vet said contents of crop was whole pieces/undigested corn with an absence of grit of any type which he found surprising. He claimed crop looked empty on X-ray afterward. He was not impressed about the amount of stuff in crop--said it really wasn't that much.

She continues to make crop adjustment motions and is depressed, only moving when I'm done handling her, to get away from me and close her eyes. I will likely put her down today.

For my edification with future chickens does anybody know what the diagnosis might be? @Eggcessive @FrostRanger or anybody who's had similar experiences? Thanks in advance.

 

[Appalachickens]

I don't, but is the lump a tumor or cyst of some sort?

 

[Eggcessive]

Today, I would call your state vet lab in Brookings, SD, and ask about getting a necropsy. That is the best way to get a diagnosis. They do a necropsy and will take specimens to look at under a microscope, as well as culturing for diseases. The body should be kept cold above freezing in clean plastic bags. Here is a list of state vet labs to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...ap_9gzraQ3OdQ0nQ0o8ZfKOEhOCm87juNhMPoAfFLj-kr

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

@Appalachickens this was what I was thinking, too.

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

@Eggcessive Yes, that makes sense. Do you know off hand whether the manner in which she is dispatched will affect how she is examined there? Neighbor was not interested in viewing video on cervical dislocation--not sure how he would dispatch her, though he might shoot her. Not really able to discuss such details w/the neighbor.

Alternatively I could continue to give water but less often just to keep her more comfortable while she dies naturally. it's been 3+ days since she's had real food or normal amt water. Not sure how long this will take.