Slow/sour crop suspected in 3yo EE Hen. Please help!

[Kay-T-Hammer]

Ok, so I gave my flock a rather unhealthy treat. Unhealthy for everyone, not just them (it was a bit of Chinese food ie rice, meat, some veggies). Again, as a treat, and I didn't think that it was too much for 8 birds. All of my other birds are fine, but my smallest EE hen has been off since yesterday. I suspected she was egg bound at first, as she showed very similar symptoms to another hen who has already twice given me egg problems. So I moved her inside and gave her a bath (she hated it). She was determined to leave the tub, hit me and the tub and vomited yellow liquid. Ok, not good. That's a different problem. I got her out and started a thorough exam and found that her bum was PLASTERED with dry poop. Like, how!? It wasn't that way just the other day! Last night I wasn't home til late and again, I thought maybe egg bound, so I gave her some massages and left her to hopefully lay her egg on the roost. Flash forward back to my point. She was so heavily caked that I couldn't even see her cloaka(?)... Her booty. I couldn't see her booty. So I used warm water and a rough cloth and gently worked it all off, twice lifting her tail enough to lower her head (had to see what I was doing) and she vomited yellow liquid both times. Each time after, she looked and acted more alive and showed interest in the food dish; but those times each lasted only a handful of minutes before she closed her eys and just stood there again. I read the article that everyone posts in response to crop questions, and I need clarity. I have zero idea what I'm doing. I have never dealt with crop issues before, and this is very new (yesterday was the start of lethargy). Some people say make her vomit, others say it'll kill her. Some say make sure she has food, others say fast her for 24 hours. Every symptom, including the fact that he had something very new to her just before it happened, says a slow crop that'll turn sour if I don't do SOMETHING. But what is the something!? She's in a crate with a comfy towel in my bedroom (dark and warm), and a bowl of fresh, cool water. She's just standing there with her eyes closed, until I open the crate, then her eyes fly open. I'm recovering from a mental breakdown that almost ended my life and I do not have the mental strength to lose her. Please help! Just point me in the direction that I need to go, please!

 

[townchicks]

What does her crop feel like? Hard, squishy? Is she pooping now that you got the caked stuff off? Is there an odor to her mouth? When did she last lay an egg, if you know? Try to figure out the answers to these questions to start. Do not try to make her vomit again. (I know it was an accident before).

 

[Kay-T-Hammer]

What does her crop feel like? Hard, squishy? Is she pooping now that you got the caked stuff off? Is there an odor to her mouth? When did she last lay an egg, if you know? Try to figure out the answers to these questions to start. Do not try to make her vomit again. (I know it was an accident before).

She hasn't laid an egg since last October/November. She hasn't pooped yet at all, which is why I'm thinking I may have a double whammy problem and she may also be struggling to lay an egg (she was always inconsistent with egg laying), but I'm not positive. I can't smell her (I can't smell anything), but my family says she smells funky. But when they said it, I was working with very hot water on her poopy butt, so I didn't know if that was the smell. Her crop feels squishy but odd, like she has a bean bag in there; it's not hard. Her belly is also making gurgling sounds, like when you eat something wicked greasy and right before you need to make a mad dash to the bathroom. My original plan for the day was to leave her to rest, but check on her, and fast her until at least tomorrow. I have coconut oil being brought to me in an hour or 2, and I put in an overnight delivery for monistat just in case. She has no interest in food or water right now, but even out in the run she's not usually a hog. Thank you!

 

[townchicks]

I think your plan is sensible. I am not an expert, but what comes to mind are several considerations. First, that she was unable to poop due to her cloaca being physically blocked by the dried poop, thus backing up her whole system. This may or may not sort itself out now that she's unblocked. Time will tell. Also, may not have been able to lay, due to blockage, also may work itself out now. Could also have caused or been caused by a sour crop situation. Could also have some other issues internally causing blockage internally, hard to determine. I'm also going to call those people who know way more than I do. @Wyorp Rock , @Eggcessive

 

[Kay-T-Hammer]

I think your plan is sensible. I am not an expert, but what comes to mind are several considerations. First, that she was unable to poop due to her cloaca being physically blocked by the dried poop, thus backing up her whole system. This may or may not sort itself out now that she's unblocked. Time will tell. Also, may not have been able to lay, due to blockage, also may work itself out now. Could also have caused or been caused by a sour crop situation. Could also have some other issues internally causing blockage internally, hard to determine. I'm also going to call those people who know way more than I do. @Wyorp Rock , @Eggcessive

Thank you! As soon as I noticed that her bum was completely blocked up, that became #1 priority. She does have an odor to her, but it smells like... Ok. You know when you have gastroenteritis and your breath and everything about you just smells like bile (to you, others can't smell it unless they're in your face)? She smells like that. Like she smells like poop. I know I didn't get it all off of her, but it's pretty pungeant and it shouldn't be. So I'm assuming that she's pooping but very little or in the back of the crate where I can't see. When I got out of the shower she appeared to be slurping up some water, but as she wasn't doing it when I got closer then I can't be positive. She finally laid down though, which is what I've been wanting her to do (when in pain, just lie down. That's my motto). I don't know how often chickens normally poop, but the only times in her life that I've seen this chicken poop was when she's lounging on me. So she doesn't poop much anyway, but I don't want to get that in my head, because then I'll start brushing it off. Just added info, I guess. She keeps staring at me like "I want to go back outside, ma!" and I can't and won't do that yet. She's very unhappy all-round.

 

[townchicks]

Ok, leave her be for a bit. In an hour or two, make a point of lifting her out of the crate and checking for poop. And if need be soak her clean again.

 

[Kay-T-Hammer]

Ok, leave her be for a bit. In an hour or two, make a point of lifting her out of the crate and checking for poop. And if need be soak her clean again.

Will do. Thank you!

 

[Kay-T-Hammer]

Ok, leave her be for a bit. In an hour or two, make a point of lifting her out of the crate and checking for poop. And if need be soak her clean again.

Any advice on whether or not I should give her a bit of coconut oil when I check her? Or should I not until I know what's going on?

 

[Kay-T-Hammer]

Checked her again. Very sleepy and seemed overheated so I provided her with a mini battery operated fan. If she's pooping, then it's clear liquid or faintly yellow/green to match the towel she's on. There's no physical sign of poop. At all. That concerns me. Even if she hasn't taken anything in today or yesterday, wouldn't she still poop a little?

 

[Eggcessive]

She may have sour crop or her crop is not working. What do your feed including any treats? Does she have access to grit to help her gizzard grind food and grasses? Do you have any Poultry NutriDrench or electrolytes and vitamins? Give her some or add a tsp of sugar and a tiny pinch of salt to a cup of water and offer that up to her beak. I would also give her a human calcium tablet or Tums in case she is egg bound.Yes, you can try giving a tsp of coconut oil, slightly chilled, and cut into small pieces to peck.