Chicken bald back

[gavclojak]

When I went out this am, Barbara's crop was visible, not full but not completely empty either. I have had a good look today and it's squashy, should it be completely empty every morning.

 

Maybe it's always like that, but then maybe not as why would I have notices it today??

 

I have checked the health forum and "the dogmother" posted a picture of an impacted crop.....it isn't anything like that but wanted to check with the all knowing chook keepers.....

[igobarefoot]

Hmm. Having just lost little Olive to sour crop, amongst other things, I can sympathise as am now totally obsessed with the rest of my girls' crops.

 

Having said that, I'm not expert! All I can say is that Olive's was noticeable in the morning and felt very squishy, which definitely wasn't normal because she had sour crop. The rest of the girls are flat in the morning and have pronounced and reasonably firm bosoms by the end of the day.

 

I'm not sure that helps much, so I hope someone else comes along with more experience x

[mimi5]

The crop should be empty and flat in the morning. I also had Florence with sour crop recently and this is sounding like sour crop to me Can you open her beak and try to get a sniff?? My vet diagnosed Florence by doing this!

 

It can be sorted.....but it can mean there's an underlying problem. Sadly, although we cleared up Florence's sour crop she never thrived after that and had to be PTS 2 weeks later of unknown causes

 

Do you have a helpful vet you trust? Maybe a visit asap? Let us know how you get on?

[gavclojak]

Thanks, I did consider sour/impacted crop. I did have a sniff and couldn't smell anything, I have checked first thing this morning, opened her beak and can't smell anything today either.

 

When I picked her up the crop felt flat but when she was walking around looked a little enlarged but to be honest, three out of the four looked bigger on one side that's the other.....

 

I do have a very chicken savvy vet whom I do trust.....what to do?

 

They are all behaving perfectly normally, Barbara hasn't lost weight, and is eating, normal amount of poop in the cube trays

 

Do I monitor? Could is be normal for them?

[igobarefoot]

How has she been over the last couple of days? If it still feels flat and everything else is ok, I would continue to monitor for now.

[mimi5]

Yes, it's possible this ok for her. I have a girl who's crop seems to spreed out when full, rather than stick out or look pronounced. I would continue to monitor and if for a few days you check crops morning & night then you will get a feel for what is their "normal", long side poos etc

[gavclojak]

Thanks, it was very flat and empty this morning....thank goodness....am going to treat her to some live maggots this pm just before bed to make sure everything is clear and I have ordered some bakoshi bran and may mix that with a probiotic.....

[igobarefoot]

Hurrah! Bet she'll enjoy that little lot - maybe that was her plan all along?

[gavclojak]

Ok so didn't get the worms last yesterday but this morning she looked enlarged in the crop area again, she is fine in every other way. I opened her beak and had a sniff...nothing.....she is eating/drinking and happy enough.

 

Gonna send OH for the said wrigglers today, he is going to have to feed them...I have a real issues with anything that wriggles and doesn't have legs.....should not be breathing the same air.....urghh

 

The crop is emptying, when she goes to bed it's as big as the rest

 

I will continue to keep an eye on her, and will try massage too.......

 

Maggots and massage....

[clucker1]

She sounds similar to my chicken see Chicken with wriggly neck post. Cluck was fine, occasionally had wriggly neck and I think now she had impacted crop. No smell or anything. Kept her going on a diet of natural yogurt, LOTS of bokashi bran and HORRID maggots which I HATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! having anything to do with, but needs must.YUCK!! Cluck was very well bossing all the other chickens round, I used to worry about her sometimes and then seeing her be her bossy self made me see that she was fine, busy eating and busy bossing!

[gavclojak]

They are tricky little girls at times....her crop was empty and flat about 11am and lovely and full by bed time so I am not going to worry too Much at the moment...