The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: JMB on April 26, 2013, 03:38:07 pm
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Hi.
Sorry if this is covered elsewhere. I've tried looking things up but I'm not used to diagnosing hens. My other ones are virtually wild and look after themselves.
This hen has been off colour, hunched up and pecking at her feathers on her chest and belly.
I brought her in and gave her crop a rub. It's soft and squishy. To be honest, maybe it should feel like that? But I suspected sour crop. I tried the upside down thing but that didn't work. She's now sitting in the porch and is scouring. Her scours are watery with greeny grey soft blobs.
I'm not sure if its good that she's doing this, or if I've helped or hindered?
Or what to do next?
Any advice welcome thank you xxxx
Joanne xxxx
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When were they last wormed?
When did you last treat for beasties? (red mite etc)
Both could be the cause.
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I put wormer in their food this week, but as they are free range they eat alsorts.
I'll clean and dust their hen house again tomorrow although I do it regularly.
Sometimes she's quite perky and then she just sits still and shuts her eyes.
I'll keep her in tonight.
Thanks xxxx
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Could be a reaction the to wormer. Is she off her food? Is she drinking? Make her comfortable, give her fresh water, offer a treat you know she likes and see if she takes it.
Do you have any powder for treating fleas/mites? If so give her a gentle application under the wings, belly and derrier. Bed her down for the night where she is cosy and won't be bothered too much by the other birds and see how she is in the morning. Let us know how she gets on.
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Yes she's drinking and eating a bit but not much. I'll give her a dust for mites too, thank you.
Xxxxxx
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Hi.
Hen is no better today unfortunately.
Her crop was still squishy this morning but she had eaten nothing so I'm assuming it shouldn't be like that.
Since then I've tempted her with a few mealworms, but that's all she's had. I've tried alsorts of different foods.
Yesterday she had a bit of corn, but not today.
And if she does nibble a bit, she then sits with her head down and her eyes shut as if its uncomfortable for her.
I force fed her a vitamin thing.
I don't think it looks hopeful, but if you can think of anything please let me know.
Her poo is still water with just dark green lumps in it, which I think is bile, which means she has no food inside her.
Thanks
Joanne xxx
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Live yogurt might be worth a try get some " good " bacteria in her
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Hi.
I think my hen has sour crop.
I keep massaging it and I read online to give her Daktarin oral gel, on the basis that its weekend and I can't get a prescription from the vet.
I tried water with Epsom salts too.
I think I have maybe left it too late but if anyone has any other ideas I'll try them.
I'm not sure I'm brave enough , or experienced enough, to turn her upsidedown and make her vomit
Thanks
Joanne xxxx
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You don't need to be brave or experienced enough to help her. I think there is a chance that emptying her crop will help her and that will make her feel better. (Which is more important than how you feel.)
It might help to have a friend with you, both for the extra hands and spiritual support. But I have done it on my own. You will need to wear your wellies and waterproof trousers and swaddle your hen in an old hand towel to prevent flapping. Wrap the hen around her shoulders/wings so that just her head and neck peek out. Place the swaddled bundle just above your knees as you stand with knees together and bent slightly. (If you don't go to the gym as often as you should and your thighs aren't strong then rest your bum at this point against a fence post or wall.) When I did this it took about 10 seconds for a trickle of rank smelling liquid to appear. It is not projectile vomit.
I did mine after dark as the only way I can get a hold of a hen is from the roost bar. So remember your headtorch.
Once that is done I would put her in a quiet, almost dark, draft-free place with fresh water, live yogurt and a treat such as sweet, cool porridge or tinned sweetcorn.
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Thanks Izzy.
I have just tried, twice, to make her vomit but she's not having it!
She just lifts her head back up.
She's quite lively apart from the fact that she's not eating, so she struggles if I pick her up, and when I try to open her beak to put some meds in.
Do you think I'm doing it wrong, or do some chickens not vomit? Or maybe she doesn't want to?!!?
Should I keep trying?!!?
Thanks
J xxxxx
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When you say lively, is she running with other hens or just sitting on her own but lively when you pick her up
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H.
No, nowhere near as lively as usual. She isn't with the others. She's in a box in our front room.
She sleeps, then gets up and wanders about, looks interested in things, but not food, then goes back to bed.
She's definitely not normal.
She just fights when I pick her up
Thanks
Jo xxxxxxx
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Could she be broody?
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Wouldn't you smell it if it was sour crop? In case it helps I just read this "Sour crop can be helped by holding the bird face-down, at about a 60 degree angle, and massaging the crop towards the throat....the stinky mess should come out like vomit, and reduce the swelling. Be sure to let the hen breathe between bouts of massaging, and keep her inside for a couple days after, feeding soft foods and adding a little bit (1tbsp/gallon) of baking soda to the drinking water to combat the acidity."
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Hi.
Yes, maybe it isn't sour crop after all. Just that her crop is full and squishy in the morning. She doesn't have bad breath though.
She is sleeping alot today and hasn't eaten or drank, which is worse than yesterday.
It looks serious to me, but I'm going to keep trying.
Thanks again
Joanne xxxxxx
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Hi.
Just to let you know my hen sadly died last night.
I was going to take her to the vet today, but we never made it.
Thanks for all your help though. I certainly learned some new things.
J xxxxxxxxx
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Could be sour crop or worms. The onset of sour crop doesn't smell, but has the same result. Sure your experience will mean you look after the others with improved vigilance JMB -that's the way we moved forward. Unfortunately we learn by our mistakes and I wish I could bring back our mistakes (and I can remember all of them by name).