Sudden onset: Crop full of fluid, watery stool, still wants to eat and drink

[fuscia]

Starting yesterday my top hen was lethargic and just standing but the water dispenser all day. When I let them out in the evening for free range time I noticed the right side of her chest was bulging. She was so meh feeling she let me handle her. Her crop felt like a big water balloon. Just picking her up and palpating it made her vomit fluid a bit. She still wants to eat and drink. But is getting weak, toppling over. She stopped laying eggs 6 months ago. She used to lay a nice brown egg every morning. She’s an Amber White and is 3 years old. Normally very independent and wants to be first out the coop door in the morning. She was sick last summer but was impacted with grass which she passes and then was better. She was also really pale two weeks ago and I thought it might be worms so I gave her diatomaceous earth in her feed and her color cane back and she was herself again. Norma this suddenly. I will say that I put some organic fertilizer in some of my plant pots and it looks like feed crumbles and they all were trying to eat it. But she’s the only one who is not well. I know she likes the feed when it gets wet and cakey so I let her eat it that way. I’m worried it’s like a cement blob in her. The UGA animal ER won’t do an X-ray and wants me to euthanize. They’ll only do that or a full work up costing $1200+. I asked to take her home. They said they’d give her some fluids and antibiotics to take home but I have to sign an AMA form. I’m still waiting for them to release to me. Please help. Thanks

 

[Duckpooper]

Starting yesterday my top hen was lethargic and just standing but the water dispenser all day. When I let them out in the evening for free range time I noticed the right side of her chest was bulging. She was so meh feeling she let me handle her. Her crop felt like a big water balloon. Just picking her up and palpating it made her vomit fluid a bit. She still wants to eat and drink. But is getting weak, toppling over. She stopped laying eggs 6 months ago. She used to lay a nice brown egg every morning. She’s an Amber White and is 3 years old. Normally very independent and wants to be first out the coop door in the morning. She was sick last summer but was impacted with grass which she passes and then was better. She was also really pale two weeks ago and I thought it might be worms so I gave her diatomaceous earth in her feed and her color cane back and she was herself again. Norma this suddenly. I will say that I put some organic fertilizer in some of my plant pots and it looks like feed crumbles and they all were trying to eat it. But she’s the only one who is not well. I know she likes the feed when it gets wet and cakey so I let her eat it that way. I’m worried it’s like a cement blob in her. The UGA animal ER won’t do an X-ray and wants me to euthanize. They’ll only do that or a full work up costing $1200+. I asked to take her home. They said they’d give her some fluids and antibiotics to take home but I have to sign an AMA form. I’m still waiting for them to release to me. Please help. Thanks

Sounds like she has sour crop, which makes their chest feel like a balloon. I don't really know about it though since I don't own chickens, but I found a website that tells you how you could get rid of it:
https://ourinspiredroots.com/how-to-treat-impacted-crop-sour-crop-and-pendulous-crop/

 

[LaFleche]

She must be very hungry as this seems to be going on for quite some time already and she stopped laying eggs 6 month ago.

Maybe there is an underlying internal issue with her reproductive system as for instance internal egg laying, cancer or else that could have blocked the passage of her digestive system.

When did you last de-worm her? An overload of worms can sometimes be the cause.

Here is what I have used successfully to treat an impacted crop:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...k-hen-to-strengthen-her.1387604/post-22825269

If you find a vet willing to do crop surgery it would be best not to wait much longer so she will still be strong enough to endure the procedure.

 

[fuscia]

She must be very hungry as this seems to be going on for quite some time already and she stopped laying eggs 6 month ago.

Maybe there is an underlying internal issue with her reproductive system as for instance internal egg laying, cancer or else that could have blocked the passage of her digestive system.

When did you last de-worm her? An overload of worms can sometimes be the cause.
I mixed diatomaceous earth 2 weeks ago and again the other day.
Here is what I have used successfully to treat an impacted crop:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...k-hen-to-strengthen-her.1387604/post-22825269

If you find a vet willing to do crop surgery it would be best not to wait much longer so she will still be strong enough to endure the procedure.
I was hoping UGA would do that. I haven’t found a vet in my area that will see her.

 

[fuscia]

Sounds like she has sour crop, which makes their chest feel like a balloon. I don't really know about it though since I don't own chickens, but I found a website that tells you how you could get rid of it:
https://ourinspiredroots.com/how-to-treat-impacted-crop-sour-crop-and-pendulous-crop/

The article was helpful, thanks!

 

[LaFleche]

I use DE myself to prevent mites in my coops and there it works just fine (the variety that will be sprayed and then dry up nicely so there is no inhaling the dust etc.)

But diatomaceous earth will not help with a severe worm infestation.

 

[fuscia]

Well she’s still alive. I’m giving her the Trimeth/sulf and she wants to eat and drink. She pooped 3 times. Each was watery and smelled bad but the 3rd has some solid material in it. Her crop is full of liquid again. And she’ll through up a bit if you don’t carry her a certain way. I think massaging the crop makes her nauseous and off balance. She was able to walk a little and picked blueberries. But she seems pretty lethargic. Sometimes she takes a step and then her right leg stretches back and she topples forward and then just lays there.

 

[fuscia]

It’s like no one cares because she’s a hen and not a dog or cat. Sigh, she seemed like she was doing better, but this morning didn’t want to be first out which is a sign something is wrong. She looked a little pale. This evening when I picked her up for medicine she felt so thin and boney. And really light. It was shocking. She’s been foraging all day. I’ve been letting them free range in the yard. I see her eating. I'm so distraught. She had an appointment w/ an exotics vet next Wens.That’s the only vet in the area who can see her. But she’s only there on tues and Wens :/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

lethargic and just standing but the water dispenser all day.

crop felt like a big water balloon

She stopped laying eggs 6 months ago

She was also really pale two weeks ago and I thought it might be worms so I gave her diatomaceous earth in her feed

Well she’s still alive. I’m giving her the Trimeth/sulf and she wants to eat and drink. She pooped 3 times. Each was watery and smelled bad

Her crop is full of liquid again

It’s like no one cares because she’s a hen and not a dog or cat. Sigh, she seemed like she was doing better, but this morning didn’t want to be first out which is a sign something is wrong. She looked a little pale. This evening when I picked her up for medicine she felt so thin and boney. And really light. It was shocking. She’s been foraging all day. I’ve been letting them free range in the yard. I see her eating. I'm so distraught. She had an appointment w/ an exotics vet next Wens.That’s the only vet in the area who can see her. But she’s only there on tues and Wens :/

Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry you feel that no one cares

What have you been doing to address her crop issue?

She has not laid eggs in 6 months - do you notice any bloat/swelling or feeling of fluid in her abdomen?

As mentioned previously, often a crop issue is a symptom of an underlying condition. With her not laying eggs in 6 months, she may have a reproductive disorder that is causing inflammation, infection, bloat or fluid in the abdomen which is slowing down her system causing the crop to not empty properly.

DE is not effective as a dewormer.

I would make sure she has water available, but separate her for a few days and treat her for sour crop. Treatment is outlined in the article below. If you want to de-worm her, get some Safeguard liquid goat wormer at Tractor Supply and give her 0.23ml per pound of weight orally once a day for 5 days.

I'm very sorry she's not doing well. Sadly, laying hens can develop problems as they get older - egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, salpingitis, etc. are the cause of most hen's decline. Sometimes with offer supportive care, keeping them comfortable and treating symptoms as arise can help them live a little longer.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/