Urgent—treating sick hen in freezing weather

[Maine_chic]

Hi all! Over the years, I’ve gotten pretty good (with help from this group!!) at diagnosing and treating sick and injured birds. But I’m in a bind here— my favorite girl is having medical issues and the way that I would normally treat her is not possible due to the freezing weather.
I suspect severe reproductive issues, resulting in GI blockage.
DETAILS:
3 yr old Silkie hen, eating/drinking, alert, slightly puffed up and hunched at times (but we are in single digits or below). Full, firm belly (not ascites), noticed yesterday. This morning, crop was not fully emptied.
Unknown if she is pooping. Doesn’t currently lay eggs but, when laying, has always been prone to soft shell eggs, infrequent laying, etc.
COMPLICATIONS:
It’s below freezing here, no warming up in sight. If I bring her in to treat her, she can’t go back out until…who knows when, I live in Maine. This rules out giving her a warm bath, keeping her in a warm/dark location, etc.
She feels totally blocked up to me.
Is there anything you can suggest to boost her GI system and get it going? MY PLAN:
Put her in a cage within the coop, with her friend. Offer cooked egg (and food/water). Add calcium (Tums) to egg. She is low on pecking order and doesn’t eat “treats” well, so she may not eat the egg/calcium. Would oil help?
I’m at a loss as to HOW to proceed with her in this frigid weather.
TO ADD:
If this is a reproductive issue, as suspected, (ie egg yolk peritonitis, or internal laying) I realize that there’s not much that I can do but make her comfortable. We do not have good veterinary options for chickens where I’m located.
Any suggestions anyone?? Thanks in advance!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you get calcium citrate tablets with vitamin D, and give her 1/4 tablet daily for a few days, no more than 7? Just open her beak and place it in there to swallow. Egg is good, but her balanced chicken feed should be the majority of her diet. Can you feel of her crop, and tell us if it has emptied overnight, before she eats or drinks? If her crop is full and hard, give her some chunks of coconut oil, or add a teaspoonful of mineral or olive oil to a small amount of egg or food. Then massage the crop several times a day, but do not massage if it is squishy or puffy. If you have any pictures of her poops that may help.

I don’t bring my sick chickens indoors, but keep them inside their coop with the others in a wire dog crate with food and water. If you have electric in there, you could use a small heating pad under a folded towel to warm her in place of a soak. Do not bathe a chicken in winter weather. It can push a sick chicken over the edge. If she has a reproductive disorder, it can lead to slow emptying of the crop, weight loss, or water belly.

 

[Maine_chic]

Can you get calcium citrate tablets with vitamin D, and give her 1/4 tablet daily for a few days, no more than 7? Just open her beak and place it in there to swallow. Egg is good, but her balanced chicken feed should be the majority of her diet. Can you feel of her crop, and tell us if it has emptied overnight, before she eats or drinks? If her crop is full and hard, give her some chunks of coconut oil, or add a teaspoonful of mineral or olive oil to a small amount of egg or food. Then massage the crop several times a day, but do not massage if it is squishy or puffy. If you have any pictures of her poops that may help.

I don’t bring my sick chickens indoors, but keep them inside their coop with the others in a wire dog crate with food and water. If you have electric in there, you could use a small heating pad under a folded towel to warm her in place of a soak. Do not bathe a chicken in winter weather. It can push a sick chicken over the edge. If she has a reproductive disorder, it can lead to slow emptying of the crop, weight loss, or water belly.

Thank you—all very helpful info. To answer the questions:
-when I went out this morning, I could feel food in her crop, this was prior to my opening their food containers. Not squishy or abnormal feeling such as in crop issues. Just abnormal in regards to it containing food in the morning.
- I don’t know if she is pooping, but I should be able to tell soon because I have enclosed her in a dog crate within the coop.
- the dog crate is large enough so that a heating pad is not likely to help
- CALCIUM CITRATE TABLETS— do you have a suggestion as to the brand? I will absolutely try this and will go out immediately to get some. I’ll do a little googling as well
Thank you again @Eggcessive

 

[Maine_chic]

Ok I think I got it—CITRACAL or similar.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A heating pad under the crate will help warm her because she'll be sitting on it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Walmart sells the equivalent for under $9:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-C...MI0o_07uS7iwMVIxatBh2CrTXbEAQYAyABEgJHxvD_BwE

 

[Eggcessive]

If her crop still had food in it this am, I would give her the coconut or other oil as well. Some use stool softener, 1 colase or the generic to help the crop empty. Massage her crop after you give the calcium to see if it helps her lay an egg. If the abdominal contents are under pressure from a slowdown, stuck egg, worms, or other problem, the crop may slow down. That can lead to impacted crop, or later sour crop.

 

[Maine_chic]

A heating pad under the crate will help warm her because she'll be sitting on it.

I’m nervous about warming the area because I can’t keep her in the cage overnight…so she will be without that heat overnight. It’s brutally cold today so I don’t want to shock her system by giving supplemental heat then withdrawing it. No clue if that’s the right path to take bc, I agree, heat would be my go-to in the warmer months! Ugh

 

[Maine_chic]

If her crop still had food in it this am, I would give her the coconut or other oil as well. Some use stool softener, 1 colase or the generic to help the crop empty. Massage her crop after you give the calcium to see if it helps her lay an egg. If the abdominal contents are under pressure from a slowdown, stuck egg, worms, or other problem, the crop may slow down. That can lead to impacted crop, or later sour crop.

Thank you! I will give coconut oil now and massage. Headed to wal mart this afternoon, so thank you for that info.