Single hen

[Micky389]

One of my small flock of three is a Sussex.While the other two produce eggs almost every day,I get very few if any from my Sussex.I have noticed recently that her crop seems to be getting bigger and bigger to the extent that when she feeds her crop touches the ground. She also appears to be gaining weight, and is much heavier than the others to pick up. Her droppings I think are almost black in colour and seem to be loose.She runs round the garden with the others and seems quite bright and alert.She feeds normally.All my three free range for most of the day, they have layers pellets in their grub container. They have an afternoon treat which can be cooked potato peelings,or corn, sometimes with a few raisins or grapes of sometimes bread s"Ooops, word censored!"s.

I have checked her crop, and it is quite soft, although recently when I picked her up and massaged it she was sick, bringing up a brown coloured mucus. Her feathers seem a bit matted round her vent, but I put this down to the fact she squats in the nest box of the Eglu to sleep as opposed to perching like the others, she has always done this,

Has anyone got any ideas please ?

 

Thanks ,

Mick

[Egluntyne]

Is her crop empty first thing in the morning?

 

If so, it just sounds as if her muscles have weakened. It can happen , often after they have had either an impacted crop or an episode of sour crop.

 

Have a look at **this article** for more info.

 

Hopefully a mod will move this to the Chicken Clinic where it will get more viewings.