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

[lucie]

Hi all

 

I have had my chickens for 5 weeks now but still seem to worry about every little thing!!

 

When I went out for a chicken cuddle this morning, I noticed that Flo, my , had a very full crop, like a handful. Normally in the morning there is not much there and then by late afternoon it is full. I have read stories about sour crops... I don't know what one is, but it made me feel worried and I just want to know if having a very full crop in the mornings is a sign of a problem... or is just completely normal and I am a chicken owner hypochondriac.... ...hopefully the latter!

 

Any help or advice would be really great.

 

Thanks

 

Lucie

[Budgies]

Hi Lucie

 

A full crop in the morning usually does indicate something slightly amiss. It should empty out overnight.

 

How did it feel? They can block or impact their crop by eating long grass, or sand or similar material which just goes hard and doesn't go through their system. This leaves a hard, granular feel to the crop.

 

If it's sour crop, which is usually caused by candida (thrush in humans), her crop will feel sloshy and liquid filled and her breath will probably smell unpleasant, like yogurt that's gone off.

 

How is she doing today, is she drinking and eating?

[Egluntyne]

Had she not eaten before you picked her up?

[lucie]

Hi

 

Her crop feels quite hard, it feels like it would normally feel after a day of eating and foraging, definitely not sloshy with liquid. Her breath smells fine. It was still full when I went to check on her this morning where as Hetty's was empty. Apart from the full crop, there is no sign of a problem. She is full of beans and eating and drinking like normal. However, it has been like this for a few days now and doesn't seem to empty.

 

What can I do? Is there something I can try at home or something I can give her? Does she need a trip to the vets?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Lucie

 

- Just checked again and the crop is actually harder than it would normally be at the end of the day, it doesn't feel like there is any movement there at all. Just a big hard lump...

 

Feeling very worried.

[Budgies]

Sorry to hear that Lucie

 

It sounds as though she has an impaction, but as it's been going on for a few days I'd definitely take her to the vet.

 

Sometimes the crop can be blocked as a secondary situation to a blockage elsewhere in their system, which means that trying to unblock the crop can cause a rupture.

[lucie]

Flo has a vet appointment at 5:40 today.

 

I will let you know how it goes.

 

I have been reading up on impacted crops and I am pretty sure that this is what it is.

[Egluntyne]

I'm glad you have made a vet's appointment as things certainly don't sound right.

 

Let us know how she gets on.

[sandyhas3chucks]

any news?

[lucie]

Great news...

 

The vet confirmed that it was an impacted crop.

 

He said that Flo was really well in herself so he was reluctant to give her stuff that she didn't need and recommended a simple course of action to start with and to keep a close eye on her. So, he showed me how to massage the crop and how to put veg oil down using a syringe. When I took her the big lump was really hard and solid and the vet managed to losen it up a bit with massage.

 

Since then, Flo has had the oil treatment a number of times and lots of massage and now her crop feels completely normal!

 

She is as happy as ever, eating and drinking and has layed an egg, doesn't seem at all stressed by yesterday's events or the oil treatment.

 

Feeling very very happy, and I now know what to do if it happens again.

 

In the meantime, after researching topic I have decided to remove straw from nest box and use shredded paper or wood chip in future.

 

Thanks for your help on this.

 

Lucie x

[Egluntyne]

Good news.

 

Straw will be the likely culprit.

 

It looks very pretty in the nest box with a clutch of eggs sitting on it, but is often the cause of impacted crop.

[Budgies]

That is just great news Lucie, glad your girl is so much improved!!

[tidygirlsuk]

Good news !