Storms and chickens

[Natspringy]

Hi all,

Would love advice.

Noticed one of my girls was a little quieter; a fair bit of lying around. Then she's done a little odd jerky/ twisty movements. So Google suggested crop issues.  I've had a feel and I think it's pretty full. So I'm guessing maybe sour? Or impacted? Think it was fairly full this am too.

My question is what do I do now. Done standard sick chicken protocol of isolating. She has water and grit. No food yet. Seeing  lots of different advice on Google so not sure what to do next....

I did notice her eating a lot of dust box sand and soil the other day. Could this be it?

Any advice gladly welcomed! 

[Emily30102]

I had the same problem with one of my girls, I asked a friend who has bred chickens for many years. Her text said:

’You could try gently seringng about 10mls of any cooking oil (olive oil, veg oil) down her. Aim the seringe to the left of her mouth to avoid her windpipe. Or you could try the same with a probiotic yoghurt. It might work if it's just sour crop. But if she's old it might not work at all. Funny things chickens. Keep on with the massaging too to help her break down whatever is stuck in there. Make sure your other chickens have plenty of grit to help prevent them getting it. don't worry if you have to tip her forwards to massage it up and out rather than leaving it to go through her system. Sometimes it's better to try and make them do that. (Like throwing up!)  Messy but sometimes helps!’

I unfortunately had to have my girl put to sleep as she was very old and I think she had other things wrong with her too but I hope this can help save yours  good luck hope it helps xx

 

[Natspringy]

Thank you! Shes pretty lively so fingers crossed! Sorry to hear with your girl.

[Cat tails]

Lewis says: no yoghurt! They can’t digest it properly. 

Dogmother says: no food, just water for 24 hours and keep massaging away.

[Natspringy]

Thank you! 

[The Dogmother]

Does her crop feel full, soft and squishy? That might be sour crop

If it feels hard and full, that might be impacted

Check to see if she is pooing

I would wait and see how it is in the morning, which is when the crop should be empty-ish, no more feed for the moment until you know what you are dealing with, do give her some syringed fluids with some poultry tonic (such as Vit Boost) in it. Report back in the morning, and we can go through treatment then.

[Natspringy]

It did feel hard earlier pre maggots, massage and fluids but is now soft and full of fluid seems pretty large still. She has been drinking loads! Wasn't sure if I should stop her. Put some acv in earlier.  She's stopped that jerky thing too. She did seem to burp??? When i was massaging earlier, then ran off. But seemed happy with a standing massage.

She's had some grit too I can feel it in there.

Other than that she's perky and lively and plenty of big poos that look fine.

Will check back in the morning with crop update! Thank you.

[Natspringy]

It's back to normal. There was a huge mess of poo behind her; guessing that was it? Looked quite matted. Little bloody maybe.

She's perky as anything now. Drinking. Can I feed her? Was thinking maggots?

 

Thanks all x

[The Dogmother]

OK, so you need to keep an eye on the pooing to make sure that her digestion is working fine - sounds OK to me, but best to be vigilant. 

Basically, her crop should be empty in the morning and full in the evening. Make sure that they don't have access to anything that is likely to block crops; this means... stringy grass, hay or straw in their bedding, shredded paper (ditto) play sand, polystyrene, hair toggles - anything like that really, you'd be surprised what comes out of blocked crops!

Syringe 2-3mls of neat ACV into her and repeat again this evening. Do this for a couple of days and always have it in their water 2-3 times a week. Make sure that they have plenty of grit, and green stuff to peck at in the evening. Feed her normally now, but try (if you can) to keep an eye and make sure that she isn't gorging.

See how it goes, but try not to worry

[mullethunter]

One of mine got impacted crop earlier in the year - I think I let their grass get too long - and she was really poorly for a few days - I thought she was going to die. I shut her in a cat box with just water for a day or two and massaged her crop quite firmly a few times and day and it sorted itself out completely. She’s fine now.

[Natspringy]

Thanks guys.

Will let her back with the others then gut check her this evening.

Noticed she's doing some stringy poos, could this be because she's not eaten since last night or a blockage? Stringy might not be correct description: kind of long and thin, more like a hedgehog poo almost rather than a round splat.

Edited July 29, 2018 by Natspringy

[Natspringy]

She laid an egg in sick bay!  Think she's all okay. Just waiting to see a poo....