Advice needed

[Marg Wildman]

Hello,
My chicken has been lethargic, at times, not eating, now not drinking much. Just hunched up. I think she has had sourcrop, bringing up beige fluid, now stopped. Watery creamy poo. I was giving her cider vinegar in water.
Any advice welcome.

 

[chrismahon]

She looks in excellent health otherwise, but the drooping tail is a sign of things not being well. Watery poo without solids is a sign of a digestive blockage. Forget the cider vinegar because it will discourage her from drinking and just regularly massage her crop with minimal pressure. It may be that the blockage is in the crop itself, otherwise it's just a case of waiting to see if something clears and she starts to poo solids again. We have a chicken who repeatedly gets into this condition and (so far) repeatedly gets herself out of it.

 

[Marg Wildman]

Thank you for your reassuring reply. I will try massaging the crop, as you suggested.

 

[Marg Wildman]

My girl is not doing well. Looks like it could be peritonitis. Waddling walk, penguin like stance, tum feels swollen but soft, eating very little. I have given Epsom salt baths. Any suggestions welcome, thanks

 

[chrismahon]

It could also be ascites or 'water belly' which is a liver or heart failing. The chicken I mentioned earlier has exactly the same symptoms but is too old to be laying, so peritonitis can be ruled out. The only option now is a vet visit.