Chicken bald back

[mullethunter]

My gang finished worming week (flubenvet pellets) yesterday lunch time and from then have been out free ranging for the first time for a week.

 

I've just looked out to see Shelley (Pekin) doing that head jerky thing the do when it looks like they're struggling to swallow something. She was doing it repeatedly for about 5 minutes so I've brought her into see if I can see anything wrong.

 

I can't usually feel her crop. Even when she eats loads it never seems to be that prominent like it can be in my other pekins, but now there's a hard bumpy lump about the size of a golf ball just to the left of centre (as you look at her) about half way down her chest which I'm guessing is her crop. The texture is sort of like a hard stress ball but I can feel perhaps pellets or other small hard shapes.

 

At the moment she's in a cat box on the kitchen with just water. She's alternating between doing the neck thing and sorting out her wet feathers. She's pooing perfectly normally now and laid yesterday.

 

Would you leave her like that and see if it's gone later / in the morning? Or would you go to a vet? Will I harm her by leaving until tomorrow? My mums still in hospital and I'm supposed to be going to visit her in the next hour. Why do these things always happen at the same time?

[Groovychook]

I'm sorry to hear that you've got worries with Shelley when you're stressing about your Mum too

I don't know what to advise, just didn't want to read and run.

 

If I was you, I'd be doing the same thing. If you think things are no better, or if she's deteriorated in the morning, then I'd contact the vet.

These things always seem to happen at the least convenient time. I've lost count of the amount of times one of our animals has needed veterinary treatment on a bank holiday weekend or a Sunday.

 

Fingers crossed she's better soon. Hope your Mum's okay too.

[mullethunter]

Thank you for the reassurance - it does help. I've just got back from the hospital (mum has come through the operation well and been moved to a general ward - unfortunately I guess the worst is probably ahead for her as they cut back on the really strong painkillers but at least she's physically back together) and put Shelley in to bed with he others. She's done a few normal and a few watery poos in the cat box, and I think maybe her crop is a bit smaller although that could be wishful thinking. She doesn't seem any more I'll, but as we all know it can be very hard to tell.

 

Fingers crossed she'll be better in the morning.

[Groovychook]

Hope Shelly's doing better this morning.

[mullethunter]

I think she's ok and it's cleared. I had a feel around when I let them out and I couldn't find her crop at all. Hopefully it was a one-off

[Luvachicken]

I'm glad everything seems to have sorted itself out.

 

In a strange way, it's odd how you have had a crop problem and a poorly Mum the same as I have recently.

 

Massaging is always a good start - especially in front of the telly which as you know my Gemma loves - and this gives you a good indication of how things feel.

 

Fingers crossed it has gone away completely.

[mullethunter]

I hadn't thought of that Luvachicken, but yes, it is a coincidence!

 

Shelley wasn't allowed in the living room - OH drew the line (we'll just wait until he's out )

[Ursula123]

OH said no chickens in the house - what he doesn't know won't hurt him

[Luvachicken]

Shelley wasn't allowed in the living room - OH drew the line (we'll just wait until he's out )

 

Nah ........... you just cover everything with some old towels, including yourself, pop chicky on your lap and massage away

 

Just tell your OH that the cat looks a bit different tonight

[mullethunter]

What do I tell the cat?!

[Luvachicken]

What do I tell the cat?!

 

Not to lick his/her lips at the sight of a chicken

Just tell the cat that it is good to share - that's what I tell the children at the school where I work