Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[mollyripkim]

That sounds positive, hope she continues to make a good recovery.

[Luvachicken]

Everything I've looked at on Google only tells you how to treat an impacted crop, not what to feed afterwards

I'm not sure what the best thing to do is

 

I think I might know what caused it though, the day before it all happened, Gemma was being chased by all the others with something in her beak. I don't know what it was but she managed to eat it before the others.

They don't normally find much in the run and it's odd that Gemma then got an impacted crop.

[mimi5]

Yay Gemma Well done Luvachicken for spotting a problem so promptly and sorting it out

 

Mine all Love pellet porridge with dollops of live natural yogurt on top

[Beantree]

We put ours straight back onto pellets Luvachicken. Sometimes they don't eat them so they get a pellet mash, which is just pellets softened with water. Important it isn't left lying about though because pellet mash goes off very quickly, so mix just before putting it out (in a plastic cat bowl we found best) and throw away any left over at night.

 

Crop impaction can be caused simply by eating pellets last thing and then not drinking enough water. They then set in a lump. Most likely to occur to the lowest hen who has to wait to get to the feeder in the evening and then dashes into the coop as it gets dark.

[gavclojak]

I had to keep my two new girls together so they were both in mash, I kept them on that for two weeks im afraid, hers was a massive crop on the first day and I did lean her forward for about 30 seconds a few times and she brought loads of brown fluid that didn't smell. That and ACV or nystatin syringed neat into her beak a few times a day and she has never had it again.

 

She was a new ex colony girl and I assume she just over ate?

[Luvachicken]

Can I make the mash with the worming powder in ?

Just that as Lucie had finished her antibiotics I started to worm them, or would I be better waiting to worm them later ?

 

Have been a bit lazy and only just got up at 10 am so Gemma only had a choice of pellets anyway so I will go and see how she feels in a bit.

 

Thank you again though everyone for your help xx

[gavclojak]

I can't see it would be a problem, but as regards as the effectiveness of the worming powder (I assume flubenvet) I wouldn't use boiling water to make the mash just tepid water.

[Chickabee]

I would wait a couple of weeks to worm them. Too much going on at once. You need some good flora going on before and after worming. Worming doesn't have to be be regimental. I put it in my diary for every 3 months, but if there's something more important I always wait. Once they're wormed you could give them a tonic if you like, or just some ACV, just do t rush

[mimi5]

Luvachicken, how is your Gemma now? I hope she is all recovered and your little flock still spitting out lots of eggs for you

[Luvachicken]

Thanks for asking mimi

There are certainly plenty of eggs

 

Gemma though, I'm not so sure about

She seems absolutely fine doing chickeny things but her crop seems so much bigger than everyone elses, in fact they don't seem to have much crop at all.

They are still on the pellet porridge, which they all seem to like and I mix it fresh for breakfast and then some more later in the afternoon.

I'm still giving her a couple of massages in the day which she seems to like.

She does crouch but I'm not sure she has actually laid anything and one of them has laid a softy a couple of times, but I don't know who as none of them show any softy symptoms

 

Do you think she is still alright ?

She poops normally too.

[mullethunter]

Bernie's crop always feels much bigger than Shelleys (can't feel the Wyandottes - they'd rather die ). Just as you say I can hardly feel Shelleys most of the time.

 

I think perhaps after they've had a problem once the shape is different, but I guess every animal is different too.

 

It sounds like as long as you keep an eye on Gemma (and I know you always do) she'll be fine

[mimi5]

Ah glad to hear you have eggs and that Gemma is doing ok I would just keep an eye on her as I know you will

 

Tilly was my hen that laid softies I tried to help, but nothing seemed to help. She struggled to lay them and I think it weakened her heart She died in my arms late summer as I was debating that one way trip to the vets, heart attack

 

Will try and post pics if my hatch goes ok

[Luvachicken]

Yesterday Gemma laid her first egg in ages so she must be feeling ok I guess.

I massaged her again today as I could see she was trying to do some kind of head movement, like trying to clear your throat. Her crop seemed ok'ish - not hard or big but I thought a bit of massage could only help and she always dozes off

 

Mimi, I'm sorry you lost one in the Summer, she chose to be with you when she wanted to go xx

[mullethunter]

Hooray You must've done a good job, she's obviously feeling much better if she's laid you an egg