Omlet cube and run

[Chicken deficient]

One of my hens has a crop problem.

I checked it a couple of days ago, as she had a dimple in her feathers at crop level, in the centre of her chest, that made me suspicious, but her crop felt normal. Then yesterday evening I noticed her snaking her neck, so I checked her crop again and it felt quite fluid and rather baggy. I emptied the fluid out of it bit by bit, but it did not smell foul in the slightest - in fact it smelled quite nice - slightly sweet? There is a firmer, but squashable mass within it - I'm wondering if she may have pulled a bit of long grass through the fence?

So, this morning I checked her crop again, (though admittedly after she had breakfast), and it again felt baggy and soft. I emptied it again and she is now in hospital quarters on Hemcore and with just water - no food.

 

My plan so far is this, but please tell me if you would suggest anything else:

 

- keep her separate with just water until tomorrow evening, gently massaging her crop every few hours and emptying it if needed

- tomorrow morning, feed her live yoghurt, corn oil and bokashi bran mash...

 

Thanks

[Egghead68]

Live white maggots to clear any blockage.

[Chicken deficient]

Live white maggots to clear any blockage.

 

Are they the sort you'd get from a fishing shop?

[Egghead68]

yes

[Chicken deficient]

Thanks, off to buy maggots then. They'd really better not turn into flies in my house...

[Chicken deficient]

Ok, so I now have half a pint of white maggots

I fed her about 20 and she thought they were delicious. I guess it is not rocket science, but how many should I be giving and how often? I was planning on giving her some oil this morning, but I didn't want to suffocate the maggots?

 

Thanks again

[Egghead68]

I have just given them a good handful in the past. I don't think it matters too much. They are not bad for the chicken. You need them to be alive in the crop so I agree with not drowning them in oil. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

[Chicken deficient]

Thanks, that gives me a good idea of how many to feed her, though I will never, ever have a good handful of maggots!

I've been giving her about 2-3 teaspoons of maggots every few hours.

She is extremely bright. Now her crop is much less distended and not full of food, I can feel a definite softish raft of what is probably grass. She must have made a bit of a habit of pulling long strands through the fence and eating them

She is very bright and demanding more maggots every time I walk past. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this maggot thing works well for her.

 

I'll let you know how she is in the morning.

[Chicken deficient]

Well, after a night of maggots wriggling and jiggling and tickling inside her, the mass in her crop was much looser. I think I can feel some feathers in there too? I think she has been eating all sorts of rubbish. I've checked everyone else's crops and they feel perfect.

So, with some massaging I've managed to pull several small pieces loose, so I'm hoping they'll pass through to her gizzard.

As she has only had maggots since yesterday morning, I gave her some grain mixed with oil and that seems to be passing through ok. Her poos were normal, until she was fasted and then fed maggots.

 

I'll give her more maggots in a bit and see how we are in the morning, but, please, if anyone has any further advice I'd much appreciate it.

 

I am concerned though that once this mass is cleared, I won't be able to stop her doing it again - even if I don't free range her, she can still pick up feathers and bedding.

[Egghead68]

That sounds promising. They sometmes eat non-foodstuffs if they have nutritional deficiencies. How about a course of nutridrops or similar?

[The Dogmother]

You're doing everything right E, just make sure she has plenty of fluids to keep her crop flushed. Perhaps try her on some live yoghurt and Bokshi Bran when she feels like eating.

 

Nutri-Drops are brilliant!

[Chicken deficient]

Perhaps try her on some live yoghurt and Bokshi Bran when she feels like eating.

 

Thank you both for your replies - I feel a bit better now!

 

She has never been even faintly under the weather, other than snaking her neck a couple of times and her appetite is ridiculous - she is one greedy bird. When I decided to put her in the hen hospital, I didn't even have to go into the run to get her - she threw herself into my arms on the off chance I was in possession of something edible.

 

I've just given her her maggot supper, so I'll give her the yoghurt and bokashi in the morning - I was a little apprehensive of bran getting caught up in the matted stuff, but I'll go ahead now I have some reassurance!

 

She's having lifeguard in her water - do nutri drops do something more than that, or are they just an alternative?

[The Dogmother]

Provided that she has enough liquid, she will be ok with a little bran. I usually suggest them being off solids for 24-36 hours but with plenty of water plus a tonic. Nutri-drops is a concentrated boost, a sort of instant energiser.

[Chicken deficient]

Things were going well with the maggots and massaging, but then she went on the opposite of hunger strike in protest of being bored in hospital and started stuffing herself with Hemcore.

I relented and put her back out with the others and she is doing really well. Each day the matt in her crop is getting smaller. There is still a bit left in there now, but had I not been aware of it, I probably would not notice it now.

I haven't dared let her back out to free range yet though. I cut all the grass I can, but there are long bits growing through fences, which is what I caught her pulling at when this all started.

[Egghead68]

Sounds promising!