[Helencus]

I've got a hen looking very very sick. She had White droppings few weeks ago so I treated all for coccidiosis seemed to get better but today she's got runs again and when I picked her up and squeezed her crop brown fluid came pouring out of her mouth. I think I'm finally going to have to do the deed myself but what could it be anyone any clue?

[Teresa]

Hi mums chicken had a similar problem with her chicken with the hen being generally depressed, not laying and then brown "sicky" stuff pouring from the mouth. She took her to the vets and they felt her over and said she had a mass in her abdomen and put her to sleep. Have you given her body a feel?

[shetlandpaul]

sounds like sour croop sorry about the spelling. there are treatments have a look on here and the net.

[Helencus]

Just did and no no mass no egg stuck nothing? Comb looking little purple too. Very depressed tho I've avoided culling any of mine so far or should I say bottled out but it's getting too expensive to take them to be put to sleep. Also given I've just hatched some birds for meat then I'm going to have to do the deed. Anyone any bright ideas before I do later? If there's a chance it's treatable I'd rather have another go.

[Helencus]

Thanks Paul will take a look now

[whitby_sam]

Sounds like sour crop to me too... Massage the crop and get any gunk out that you can, add some cider vinegar to their water and restrict the diet to simple pellets for a few days. Its usually caused by a combination of long grass and grains which some chickens find hard to digest. That and of course overindulgence LOL.

Sourcrop is curable and you should find a lot of info and ideas to try. Its very rare that it gets so serious that it requires an operation and can usually be sorted out easily.

[Helencus]

Thanks Sam I read up as Paul suggested so am sat in vets now so they can give her some anti fungal stuff baytril was recommended or flagyl. Have massaged her crop have cider vinegar too so hopefully she will be ok.

[Helencus]

Well vet said it isn't sour crop after all she has a severe intestinal infection loads of fluid on her abdomen said she was just filling with fluid which is why when I squeezed her crop it all came out. She's very under weight too so mustve been poorly whilst we were away...I feel terrible to be told she's that sick and emaciated feel like a bad owner.
She's got a chance though so she gave her baytril and fingers crossed were not too late.
Any recommendations on what I can feed her up on need to get some weight on her again asap.

[plumseverywhere]

You're not a bad owner!! you took her to the vet after taking the time to notice that she was poorly, I think that makes you a very good owner    no doubt you've been handed a hefty bill for your trouble too 

i think in medical/vetinary terms the word emaciated is not meant to be critical, merely descriptive of a condition so please don't feel bad.

hope she picks up soon

Lisa x

[little blue]

and layer hens aren't exactly bulky are they?!
I agree with Lisa, not all owners would pay out and you're doing all you can so dont beat yourself up

all the best for mrs hen....

[Alice]

Do hope she responds to the antibs - we usually feed ours up with bread soaked in milk with some cheese cut up in it - they love it & it's packed with protein which they need.  Did the vet give any advice about feeding?

[doganjo]

Try my now famous porridge!   Rolled oats soaked in boiling water, add honey and citricidal if you have it, or poultry spice if you have that, put in some milk to thin it a little and cool it down, then watch as it disappears!

[Helencus]

Thanks all. Just gave her more antibs and loads more brown fluid came pouring out of her. I feel so sorry for her she's such a tough bird vet said she had such a strong heart which is the only reason why she's still going. I put some bread with milk in but she's not touched it. I'm hoping she makes it through the night and the meds kick in so she starts eating tomorrow.
I know I've done all I can but still can't help feeling bad about things, ex bats are skinny but she's got really fluffy feathers so until she got sick I'd no idea she'd lost so much weight she seemed fine yesterday..
Yes Annie I have citricidal I used it when I did my liver detox also regularly give poultry tonic.
Fingers crossed she's still with us tomorrow and I can give it to her.

[shetlandpaul]

sorry i got it wrong. glad you did not bump it off thou. sounds nasty. but its not your fault chucks come down with bugs. they are either well very sick or dead. it does get expensive if you have to keep going yo the vet. ours are large animal practices and find it slightly funny if we take one in. they are pretty good and will supply most things without the chucks seeing the vet.

[Anke]

How old is your hen? I have had to put one with exactly the same symptons out of her misery, but she was over three years old, and I cannot justify the vet for a hybrid hen of that age....