PrettyBirdRocky
Crowing
(not asking for advice, just sharing HeadHen's journey, have thread for advice)
So, this is HeadHen. Black Australorp, got her end of Feb 2023 in a straight run. She was the biggest hen: size, comb, redness. Even over some of the cockerels.
She was always right there, talkative, loved eating mash off the spatula, following us around.
Around September 2023, she began crop issues, we massaged, got meds(yeast infection). Her body size went to normal after she stopped laying eggs around Oct, and molted Nov/Dec 23. Then winter, so we knew she'd probably not lay for a while, no biggie! She wasn't as prolific a layer as her siblings either to begin with, maybe 2-4 a week IF that?
About March24 she started to turn red again, and we thought, ooh eggs!
Nope. No eggs. Crop issue. Huge pendulum swinging crop. Just her. No other issues with any of our numerous girls.
Tried crop bra- wouldn't stay on obviously. We massaged, we used monistat, stool softener, even calcium+d just in case! Did a few Epsom baths. Did the meds for a week, no change. Waited a week- giving egg, vit e, probiotics in between with mash, then tried a Corid treatment. (At the time we had babies who were taking it and figured why not!) All the while she stayed with the flock unless we were massaging or giving mash meds (feed, water, meds mixed- she did much better with those)
Waited a few more days, no real improvement. She'd walk around, move. But that crop just kept hanging no matter what we did. Asked here. Did all reading we could. And just waited.
After over two months of (nearly) all advice I admit I sort of gave up and just let her be--we had life stress and bird stress(me and HeadHen as I was the only one doing it all, and it was just a lot). I say nearly as we weren't able to get all the suggestions locally at time.
Poor girl just kept chugging along even though she looked miserable. We wavered on vet verses mercy cull. But we couldn't do it. No, I couldn't do the crop surgery either. Maybe if I had enough hands and she wasn't huge. ((I've got the idea to ask on FB if our current treatment doesn't work)) But I tried the massages and medicines(stool/yeast) again, to no avail.
So we just let her be. Massaged when we were out with them, gave wet mash, just enjoyed our time with her and the others.
Fast forward to this past week. She actually got in the nest and we just knew she was finding a spot to pass. We debated on taking her to a vet, after finding one we did take her. They could do surgery, labs, medicine 350$usd (not terrible considering how much we spend on our dogs.... Lol) or euthanasia (52 easy sleep we take her home to bury her)
I know many people are like "they're chickens" sure, but not quite. They are our pets too. Now. The surgery is an option, but I have renewed hope of maybe giving her at least another chance before we go that route.
I had an idea on a better crop bra (and I have an idea on how to make it better too just haven't had time to see it yet). During Covid2020 I sewed masks, and still had several left over. How mine are made, they go around her bulge perfectly. Added some strings and put it on--she can't get it off and it does give her a lift!
Found Nutri Drench Poultry, Senokot, added it to our Docusate(stool softener), monistat. Gave her that Friday evening (July 12, 2024). And she ate enthusiasticly!
Mixed cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, lemon juice mixture(from article by @TwoCrows) and added that to a small amount of feed with the NurtriDrench, monistat for this morning. She ate it all, on the porch with me and after a little massage went back with the girls. No one bothers her and hasn't for months.
Second group (today Sat July 13,24) added a small egg(our olive eggers are starting to lay and have tiny eggs right now lol) so it was a bit too runny but she ate more than half! Another massage and back out with the girls. Our EE, Chipmunk, likes to hang around HeadHen and had to come inspect her each time before finding her good to go. And another good sign, HeadHen actually wanted to run from me instead of just standing in place!
We did order some Acidified Copper Sulfate from jedds as it was the only place we could find it, it'll be a week or so out but it's on its way.
I feel bad for giving up and panicking, but all in all, I'm not giving up! We just had to take a break, reset, and try again. (Without life's interruptions)
Even if we don't or do the surgery, I can know we at least gave her a shot. She's already responding better than the first time, and even the vet said she may have reproductive issues--which we had already figured with no eggs. Yes, it is what it is, we are doing what we can, and we hope she makes at least enough of a recovery to be more lively. If she never lays again, so be it, that's not our goal.
I will update as we try this again. I'm sure I've messed up and made mistakes. We never expected her to fight this long, so if she's still going so shall we.
Photos may not be in chronological order. Most recent are from beginning to crop bra/mask.
So, this is HeadHen. Black Australorp, got her end of Feb 2023 in a straight run. She was the biggest hen: size, comb, redness. Even over some of the cockerels.
She was always right there, talkative, loved eating mash off the spatula, following us around.
Around September 2023, she began crop issues, we massaged, got meds(yeast infection). Her body size went to normal after she stopped laying eggs around Oct, and molted Nov/Dec 23. Then winter, so we knew she'd probably not lay for a while, no biggie! She wasn't as prolific a layer as her siblings either to begin with, maybe 2-4 a week IF that?
About March24 she started to turn red again, and we thought, ooh eggs!
Nope. No eggs. Crop issue. Huge pendulum swinging crop. Just her. No other issues with any of our numerous girls.
Tried crop bra- wouldn't stay on obviously. We massaged, we used monistat, stool softener, even calcium+d just in case! Did a few Epsom baths. Did the meds for a week, no change. Waited a week- giving egg, vit e, probiotics in between with mash, then tried a Corid treatment. (At the time we had babies who were taking it and figured why not!) All the while she stayed with the flock unless we were massaging or giving mash meds (feed, water, meds mixed- she did much better with those)
Waited a few more days, no real improvement. She'd walk around, move. But that crop just kept hanging no matter what we did. Asked here. Did all reading we could. And just waited.
After over two months of (nearly) all advice I admit I sort of gave up and just let her be--we had life stress and bird stress(me and HeadHen as I was the only one doing it all, and it was just a lot). I say nearly as we weren't able to get all the suggestions locally at time.
Poor girl just kept chugging along even though she looked miserable. We wavered on vet verses mercy cull. But we couldn't do it. No, I couldn't do the crop surgery either. Maybe if I had enough hands and she wasn't huge. ((I've got the idea to ask on FB if our current treatment doesn't work)) But I tried the massages and medicines(stool/yeast) again, to no avail.
So we just let her be. Massaged when we were out with them, gave wet mash, just enjoyed our time with her and the others.
Fast forward to this past week. She actually got in the nest and we just knew she was finding a spot to pass. We debated on taking her to a vet, after finding one we did take her. They could do surgery, labs, medicine 350$usd (not terrible considering how much we spend on our dogs.... Lol) or euthanasia (52 easy sleep we take her home to bury her)
I know many people are like "they're chickens" sure, but not quite. They are our pets too. Now. The surgery is an option, but I have renewed hope of maybe giving her at least another chance before we go that route.
I had an idea on a better crop bra (and I have an idea on how to make it better too just haven't had time to see it yet). During Covid2020 I sewed masks, and still had several left over. How mine are made, they go around her bulge perfectly. Added some strings and put it on--she can't get it off and it does give her a lift!
Found Nutri Drench Poultry, Senokot, added it to our Docusate(stool softener), monistat. Gave her that Friday evening (July 12, 2024). And she ate enthusiasticly!
Mixed cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, lemon juice mixture(from article by @TwoCrows) and added that to a small amount of feed with the NurtriDrench, monistat for this morning. She ate it all, on the porch with me and after a little massage went back with the girls. No one bothers her and hasn't for months.
Second group (today Sat July 13,24) added a small egg(our olive eggers are starting to lay and have tiny eggs right now lol) so it was a bit too runny but she ate more than half! Another massage and back out with the girls. Our EE, Chipmunk, likes to hang around HeadHen and had to come inspect her each time before finding her good to go. And another good sign, HeadHen actually wanted to run from me instead of just standing in place!
We did order some Acidified Copper Sulfate from jedds as it was the only place we could find it, it'll be a week or so out but it's on its way.
I feel bad for giving up and panicking, but all in all, I'm not giving up! We just had to take a break, reset, and try again. (Without life's interruptions)
Even if we don't or do the surgery, I can know we at least gave her a shot. She's already responding better than the first time, and even the vet said she may have reproductive issues--which we had already figured with no eggs. Yes, it is what it is, we are doing what we can, and we hope she makes at least enough of a recovery to be more lively. If she never lays again, so be it, that's not our goal.
I will update as we try this again. I'm sure I've messed up and made mistakes. We never expected her to fight this long, so if she's still going so shall we.
Photos may not be in chronological order. Most recent are from beginning to crop bra/mask.
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Sounds like you have done all you can for her. Sometimes there are things you just can't cure in their bodies. She knows you love her and she still has that spark in her eyes, I can see it from here. She is in good hands with you. 
Keep up all the lovin' on her!! 
