vomiting hen - any advice?

[pinksleepybear]

Hi,

I've had my 6 ex-batts for 2 weeks now. This morning, the dominant hen is vomiting water a few minutes after drinking. She's feeding ok and is acting normally. None of the others seem to be affected. I'm going to separate her from the others, but is there anything else I should do?

Very grateful for any advice, am very worried.

Louise

[Nicos]

Is her crop impacted? Might need massaging out .
As I'm a newby to chooks I've no idea how to do it- but I did read somewhere that long grass, bread and a few other things can lead to an impacted crop- and I presume she'd try to drink water to loosen it??

Just a thought!

[Flummery]

I've seen a recommendation that you should put a little olive oil from a syringe into the hens' mouth then gently massage the crop. However - warning - I haven't got hens - this is second hand! Might help to google 'impacted crop' - and get some advice like that.
PS - long grass can stick in the crop and go sour and cause this sort of problem.

[MaureenHall]

I had that with one of the second lot of newbies, it happened on about the second day and really I didn't know what to do so just made sure there was plenty of water available for her and kept an eye on her. There wasn't any long grass she could have eaten and I just put it down to a change of diet and gorging herself. If she's not eating and her crop feels hot and hard, then perhaps a very gentle massage might help to empty her crop into her stomach. If it feels soft and ok, then just keep an eye on her, perhaps try her with a treat like tomato or other fruit. If she's no better tomorrow and still puking then I'd get some advice from the vet

[pinksleepybear]

I've put her in the empty bathtub for the time being with access to some food and water. She definitely has diarrhoea too. She is very feisty though, I had a hard time catching her to bring her home. I've felt for her crop, but couldn't find it - just the breastbone, so it's definitely not swollen. She has only had layers pellets and mixed corn to eat for the last week - no bread, grass or other treats. I guess if she's pooping, food must be moving through her.

I'll keep her at home today and then if she's no worse, I'll section off the end of the chicken run and put her back in there tomorrow. I don't want her to get lonely and we don't really have anywhere suitable to keep her at home (run is on our allotment).

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

[Nicos]

Does she need worming??

[Glutton4...]

... I've felt for her crop, but couldn't find it - just the breastbone, so it's definitely not swollen ...

Mine had no crop when I got them - they have huge ones now in comparison. I suppose they didn't develop in the battery houses. It's only now that they're lucky enough to be outside with all that lovely grass and good food they get.

I hope your chook is OK, fingers crossed for you.

[Henschool]

Hiya, Hens don't vomit at all. If she is drinking a lot then sometimes they leak water from their beak when they tip their head downwards. Have a feel of her crop to see if it is spongy or hard to rule out sour crop