Luvachicken Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Even after 5 years of chicken keeping there are still things I'm unsure of I gave Queenie her bath again today, and a few times I have heard her tummy rumbling. Is a chicken's tummy meant to rumble ? Is their crop meant to be full by the time it is their bedtime or does it kind of empty and fill all day long ? I only know it is meant to be empty by morning. Does a chicken know that it is full up or will it's crop just keep getting bigger ? Would a chicken know that she gets treats at the end of a bath session and hold out for those treats ? I ask because sometimes when I give Queenie her bath her crop has a lot in it and other times it doesn't. I weighed her last week and she weighed less than the 900g she weighed at the vets and now my scales say she weighs 800g. The scales I use are old things that you twist. Hubby told me after the event that I should have weighed the proper weights on them first to make sure it was calibrated properly. So, now I don't know if she has lost weight or not, and not only that when we last went to the vets and he weighed her at 900g he then told me that he hadn't written down her weight when we went before for the xray and subsequent antibiotics, so I didn't find that very useful. She now has a very full crop from pigging out on the last bit of corn on the cob and helping herself to some Garvo treats. Her poo seems to have a bit more structure but is still not right yet. I just want to make sure she is ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Please let me know the answers when you find them out . I was just thinking about the crop today I lifted up my silkie to put her to bed and it wasn't terribly full, but it was still light so plenty of time to eat before she tucked herself in. My ex bats seem to have constantly full crops. They get up before I do though, so have never felt them in the morning . As for the others I don't feel theirs on a regular basis and I've never listened out for a tummy rumble Will we ever stop learning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Thanks for your reply chickabee. You are right about constantly learning. I wonder when we might know all we need to know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Firstly, can I ask why you bath Queenie so often? Is it for a badly mucky bum? Crops are norm full end of evening with my log, from their mash plus occasional corn. Queenie enjoyed her corn as per post recently. Is she able to take reg chook food at all? Hope she is on the mend for you soon..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Hi Luvachicken. I'll have a stab at answering your questions:- A chicken hasn't got a stomach. Rumbling noises could be gas caused by food digestion. I have noticed several of our birds 'burp' on occasions. The crop should be 'full' by bedtime. It is filling and emptying all day but they have main feeding times first thing in the morning and last thing at night. The degree of 'full' depends on the season and if they are laying. At the moment ours aren't eating that much because nights are short. In Winter their crops were twice the size by bedtime. I've never had a crop explode but some looked like they would. I spilled the treats bucket and they pigged everything I couldn't gather up. Chickens will definitely hold out for treats. They have the intelligence for self-restraint which has been proven experimentally. Ours don't eat many pellets during the day because they are saving their crop capacity for the good stuff. They always get grain treats around 4.00pm. They stand waiting and watching near the gate and all run to the fences when I appear around that time. When the mixed corn is scattered they cram as much in as possible. In fact two jump into the bucket given the chance! When it has all gone then they top-up with pellets. A large percentage of the weight of a bird is the food in the system. It don't think it will be possible to get an accurate weight. Some of ours do a huge poo in the morning which would make a big difference. Eggs in process will also be a lot of weight. There are about 6 yolks in the oviduct at any time in varying stages of development. The white, membrane and shell go on in the last day. Calibration of the scales is an important point. You can get big differences. Easy to check though with a Kilo bag of sugar. Has Queenie got grit? Is the feed getting ground up properly or is it going straight through? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 Thank you Redsunset and Beantree Firstly, can I ask why you bath Queenie so often? Is it for a badly mucky bum? Crops are norm full end of evening with my log, from their mash plus occasional corn. She gets a bath just on her bottom every day because the runnyish poop sticks to her skin and was making it a bit sore. The vet also shaved off her knickers to see her skin more clearly. Her poo yesterday was definitely better and not full of water like it was but sadly it still sticks to her skin, hence a bath each day. Unfortunately I have been extra busy at school the last couple of weeks and out in the evenings a lot, and because they wake up at silly o'clock I have no idea what she has already eaten. Has Queenie got grit? Is the feed getting ground up properly or is it going straight through? They have access to grit in those little galley cups - they have big grit, little grit and oyster shell grit plus ground eggshells. Beantree, her poo definitely looks better than it was, not so much water at all and with more structure to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 My chickens' tummies rumble sometimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 That's cause you don't give them Krispy creams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 That's cause you don't give them Krispy creams Do you think this could be the problem If so then I think I'll need to pop to Greggs and get a lovely lemon doughnut for them to share with me - I'll have the doughnut and they can watch me eat it - that is sharing isn't it ? Actually, I have just popped Queenie back after her bath and her poo is definitely getting better. I topped her up with pellets instead of the corn so I know she is able to eat them. Fingers crossed she will be back to normal soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Sounding good for Queenie. Everything crossed for her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I've heard the grumbling sounds from Fleur too and it is definitely gas in the crop. In fact, with her impacted crop the vet told me to give her baby infacol to expel her *ahem* excess wind I've had chickens 2 years now and just when you think you've got it sussed, something new seems to crop up (no pun intended) to test your chicken keeping knowledge Sounds like Queenie is doing very well I've never had a crop explode but some looked like they would. P.S. That made me laugh Beantree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
