Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[Scoobs]

Just got home from holiday and one of my hens in not looking right. Her crop looks a bit odd and there is a hardish lump the size of a golf ball and she is doing a strange neck movement which seems to try to be moving something.

 

They are kept in a run so no free ranging and as a friend has been feeding them this week they haven't had any treats so just their layers pellets. If it is impacted crop what do I do? I've read olive oil/natural yoghurt and massage but how much and for how long? Also do I separate her? She doesn't look like she wants to eat she seems a bit out of sorts.

 

Thanks for your help.

[zakjon-98]

It does sound like impacted crop unfortunately I've heard that feeding live un-dyed maggots are good as they help loosen up up the crop impaction. I would also make sure they all have grit. Can't help with the oil/yoghurt treatment or separation as I haven't had this problem with my chickens but if it doesn't clear soon I would take her to the vets.

[laurmurf]

A few of my chooks have had impacted crops and it is something you can deal with yourself, as far as it's possible.

I syringe an avipro solution into the crop and then massage the crop so try to break up the lump(s). I've spent a good 20minutes/half hour each massage with lots of fluid to break it up.

 

If you don't have avipro then live natural yoghurt mixed with water would work (you're just trying to get both fluids into her and then balance the pH of her crop so that it doesn't turn into sour crop), and you want to get as much fluid into her as possible to break up the lump when massaging. I'm able to do a crop lavage but I was shown how by mostin. If you don't feel ready to do that then just syringe as much liquid in as you can till her crop feels a bit softer then start the massage.

 

I've had this approach work several times, and what's good about it is that even if it isn't a blocked crop necessarily then the treatment isn't going to do any harm.

 

If the blockage is more persistent then I've also used oil to not only break up the lump but to try to get her to pass part/all of it through her gizzard and system and poo it out. Again you need to get a decent bit into her by syringe.

 

When a blockage has been very persistent then I did a crop lavage with liquid paraffin and tried two approaches: one as before, breaking it up and trying to get it to move down through the digestive track and the other (as a last resort) was to move the blockage up her throat and out of her beak. This latter approach is fraught with risks so really is a last resort option. I did this when the only other option (which i wouldn't take) was to have the lump surgically removed.

 

I hope the easy options work for you!