4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[cluckingmad]

Hi guys,

 

Yesterday noticed that one of my ex-bat girls, Millie, had a large crop (at least I think thats what it is...its a lump at the base of her neck, sorry to sound so untechnical!)... the BHWT folks said they might have crop issues as they've only been fed dry mash before so are lacking in muscle tone in their crop..

 

Anyway, she's not in any way impressed if i try to massage it, although she's eating and drinking fine (in fact pushes everyone out of the way in raisins are involved), but I'm bothered... would anyone suggest getting some olive oil down her? If so, how much?! Don't want to give the poor little mite the dreaded squitters at the same time

 

Feel like a fretting new parent, any advice gratefully recieived (I'd bring the little soul in to our bedroom if i thought it would help)

[Mel (& Paul)]

Dont fret!

Yes, the large lump is likely to be her crop - it should be full at the end of the day and empty first thing - sometimes when they have been gorging it looks like they have swallowed a tennis ball

The crop should be softly squishy - if it is really hard then it may be impacted, if it is really "soggy" then it might be sour crop.

Have a look in this section for some tips on what to do

[Mel (& Paul)]

Claret did a really good post in the Poultry Health section - click on this:

 

 

viewtopic.php?f=41&t=25052

[Egluntyne]

I can't see how being fed dry mash only would result in a lack of muscle tone in the crop tbh.

 

The crops can look very large and odd in ex-batts when they have few or no feathers down their fronts.

 

As long as she is eating and drinking normally, and the crop goes down overnight, you have nothing to worry about.

[cluckingmad]

cheers one and all Had the little poppets out last night and all three ex-batts were drinking well (and lots!).. they are currently in a hutch so have access to food all day and night, Millies crop was still large this morning but when I'm massaging it I can still feel the individual pellets so not too worried at the moment... she seemed to enjoy being massaged as she relaxed and rested against my arm while I was doing it

[The Dogmother]

She sounds fine cluckingmad; probably just a greedy chook!

[cluckingmad]

oh she certainly is that! She's rapidly become my baby, won't go far from me when she's out, likes to be snuggled and is a cracking little hen