cluckynikki Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Feeling sorry for my two hens in the snow, I followed others on this forum and made a warm porridge with pellets, oats, sultanas and warm water. I did think at the time that it was quite stodgy and maybe I should have put more water in it. I think I gave them the porridge about 5 or six times over about 5 days when it was very cold, but then, having read about crop problems on this forum in the past, I began to wonder if it might block them up a bit, so I stopped giving them porridge. Although I felt cruel I was worried it might lead to sour crop. This evening I have noticed that they both have very large hard crops and i am panicking like mad. They have not had anything like this before, and in fact, i have never actually been able to find their crops before. Now I am worried that I have caused this and they are going to get ill. I remember reading on here a few weeks ago about putting a tube down their throat and flushing with water, but that is far too medical for me. I cannot justify huge vets bills as I keep the hens for their eggs and whilst I am attached to them I am not able to spend huge amounts of money on them. I would be interested to hear how others have dealt with hard impacted crops - and also whether anyone else has noticed an increase in the number of crop problems in their hens if they fed them porridge. Thanks in advance, I know that someone out there will be able to give me some good advice. Nikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Nikki, if it is evening, it may just be that their crops are full? I panicked once in the same circumstances, but by morning it was empty and completely normal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 I agree, I am amazed at the size of some of my girls crops at bedtime, but then next morning they are fine again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Mine get two portions of porridge a day at the moment - they are very hungry! Their crops are visible at the end of the day, but all gone in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 lola had a huge crop the other night after eating porridge and stuff but it was gone in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 No crop problems here either and mine have had porridge for the last 5 mornings lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 The stodge is the pellets and they would eat them anyway. The water mixed in increases how much they drink so they just pee a lot. I wouldn't worry unless they are like it in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 In the event that they do still have full crops in the morning, the first thing I would do is get some maggots.........the thought is thoroughly , but it invariably works if I have a problem...not personally of course, my crop is fine , but I have an Orpie Buffie who had dreadful problems last summer with impacted crop and the maggots have prevented nasty repeat bouts If their crops are empty, as the others have said there is no problem, they've just been greedy guts & eaten everything they've clapped eyes on, so don't worry ! Mine have taken my hand off for Ready Brek made with water not milk these past 2 mornings.......this evening I couldn't find the bowl, so heaven knows where they've hidden that Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 And sour crop is sloshy not hard Feeding chicks mash that is too hot has been known to cause sour crop in chicks. But please don't worry TOO HOT! not normal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 No problems here and they've been having fairly regular porridge. Getting really huge poos though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckynikki Posted January 15, 2010 Author Share Posted January 15, 2010 Thank you, I feel so much better about it now. I will wait until morning and see how they are. It just seemed strange because I have never noticed their crops before, even though I have looked for them in the past. I will let you all know how things are in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 In the event that they do still have full crops in the morning, the first thing I would do is get some maggots.........the thought is thoroughly , but it invariably works if I have a problem...not personally of course, my crop is fine , but I have an Orpie Buffie who had dreadful problems last summer with impacted crop and the maggots have prevented nasty repeat bouts If their crops are empty, as the others have said there is no problem, they've just been greedy guts & eaten everything they've clapped eyes on, so don't worry ! Mine have taken my hand off for Ready Brek made with water not milk these past 2 mornings.......this evening I couldn't find the bowl, so heaven knows where they've hidden that Sha x me too , maggots work a treat. Sha under the floor covering silly.... just where you will stand on it when you have forgotten about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckynikki Posted January 15, 2010 Author Share Posted January 15, 2010 When you say maggots do you mean like the ones you get in fishing shops? Are they the live wriggly ones which stink? Do you give them to the hens live? What do they do to help the problem if it is a compacted crop? Sorry for all the questions, but I have not read about this solution before on this forum. And i want to be ready to spring into action in the morning if their crops haven't gone down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 buy a bag of wrigglers and offer the bound chook a good handful of live ones, watch chook hoover them up and then you can almost see the crop moving while the maggots eat their way through the blockage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 I agree, I am amazed at the size of some of my girls crops at bedtime, but then next morning they are fine again Mine are the same, one in particular had a huge crop this evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prof Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 mine too have huge crops recently of an evening , but they arnt in the morning so i put it down to me spoiling them with porridge and anything warm and them being greedy dont worry, im sure that yours will be the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 just wanna join in and add to the gang putting your mind at rest My hens + porridge = HUGE crops on an evening. I sometimes wonder how they dont fall over they are so crop heavy But alls fine in the morning. Do let us know how yours are in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckynikki Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 Well, the wonder of a hens's anatomy... I am pleased to say that their crops have gone down by this morning as you all predicted. Thank you for your kind words of re-assurance ... I was on the point of whipping them out of the eglu last night and subjecting them to a crop massage. (And it has saved me having to brave the smell of the fishing shop for maggots too) I guess the greedy girls had just gorged themselves once that horrible cold white stuff which had been hiding their grass disappeared. With snow on the ground for the last week they had missed out on all their foraging so they probably made the most of it yesterday. (Bit like me when I walk through the doors of the Chinese eat all you can buffet I think!) Thanks again. I have had my hens for 9 months now and there is always something new to learn. I love reading this forum ... I have so many chuckles reading about hens, my husband thinks I am mad. I have always thought I am not enough of an expert to comment on other people's posts, but I think now I will add my words if they can be of help to someone. You were all right and put my mind at ease last night, so thank you everyone. Nikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 What a lovely post. Glad the chooks are all okay. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Glad your girls crops were emptied again this morning... All ready to be filled to the brim again during today! Gives them some good energy to be digesting overnight and keeping them warm. Sounds like your hens are really healthy skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Yay, so glad they were all ok this morning. Lovely post too, I havent had my chucks much longer than you have had yours but I feel everyone can contribute even if its just to give a little bit of reassurance So look forward to seeing more of you in the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
