5 week old with HUGE CROP

[LikeTurkeys]

I would be very careful with turning her upside down and massaging the crop. Chickens can breathe in the fluid and die very easily.

You said that it feels like it is full of air or liquid and squishy, I would smell her breath to see if it's sour. Impacted crop would I think have a hard ball of long grass or other things jammed in there that you would be able to feel. @azygous wrote a good article on treating various crop ailments, though the dosing of miconazole will probably have to be adjusted according to her size.

I have emptied chickens with severe sour crop a few times by inserting a tube into their crop (down the esophagus) and either letting it siphon out (the end of the tube is lower than the bottom of the chicken's crop) or by syringing it out. After that, since in my case the hen wouldn't eat, I woud tube feed her with miconazole mixed in. Removing the fluid in this way prevents any possibility of the hen aspirating.

Also, I agree with everything the above experienced people have said, this is just my two cents. (I am open to opinions and corrections of course!)

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

I'm going to try and bring in the Big Guns here...

@aart, @rosemarythyme, @Wyorp Rock, @Eggcessive

Please chime in on this plea for help from @sevenluck7s... this is a serious situation that I know you can help with...

Thank you so much. I did See her poop just now and it’s very watery..almost bubbly looking. She’s so tiny and frail.

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

I would be very careful with turning her upside down and massaging the crop. Chickens can breathe in the fluid and die very easily.

You said that it feels like it is full of air or liquid and squishy, I would smell her breath to see if it's sour. Impacted crop would I think have a hard ball of long grass or other things jammed in there that you would be able to feel. @azygous wrote a good article on treating various crop ailments, though the dosing of miconazole will probably have to be adjusted according to her size.

I have emptied chickens with severe sour crop a few times by inserting a tube into their crop (down the esophagus) and either letting it siphon out (the end of the tube is lower than the bottom of the chicken's crop) or by syringing it out. After that, since in my case the hen wouldn't eat, I woud tube feed her with miconazole mixed in. Removing the fluid in this way prevents any possibility of the hen aspirating.

Also, I agree with everything the above experienced people have said, this is just my two cents. (I am open to opinions and corrections of course!)

I have Been giving her miconazole for for past 2 days as well. I got the 3 day treatment and she has been taking that really well. Something must be getting though since she is pooping? I am So lost here. I do Not have a tube I can insert, I do Not know if I would Feel comfortable doing that. She is so tiny.

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

Sorry, I've only dealt with impacted crops in an adult hen (it was hard, not squishy) - and while I did massage the crop I did not attempt to make the bird regurgitate.

Do these chicks have access to grit?

Yes they do have access to grit. It feels Very squishy. Sometimes it seems like it’s full of liquid....maybe gas from fermenting?

 

[azygous]

Was her crop full and squishy this morning? Could you tell if her crop size was reduced overnight? Had she had access to food and water overnight?

How is her behavior this morning? Is she lethargic? Not wanting to run around with the other chicks? Or is she segregated? If so, it's not necessary, and she would do better left with the others.

What are you feeding her at present?

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

It was

Was her crop full and squishy this morning? Could you tell if her crop size was reduced overnight? Had she had access to food and water overnight?

How is her behavior this morning? Is she lethargic? Not wanting to run around with the other chicks? Or is she segregated? If so, it's not necessary, and she would do better left with the others.

What are you feeding her at present?

She is eating Purina medicated starter feed and they get to free range some throughout the day. She does have access to food overnight. They still have a light at night as it is still cold here. This morning it was still just as big and still squishy but maybe seemed a little less squishy. We isolated her one night without food and the crop was still the same the next morning. She is still running around with all the others

 

[LikeTurkeys]

I have Been giving her miconazole for for past 2 days as well. I got the 3 day treatment and she has been taking that really well. Something must be getting though since she is pooping? I am So lost here. I do Not have a tube I can insert, I do Not know if I would Feel comfortable doing that. She is so tiny.

That's okay. I only did it when the hen had a bad case and wasn't eating anyway. If her breath smells bad and is squishy like you describe, I would think it is sour crop. The miconazole should help with that. It's good that she is still active and eating.

If her breath does not smell bad but continues to hang down (over a decent period of time, 2+ weeks), I would worry about pendulous crop. I'm not sure it can develop in birds this young, but I think it's possible. In that case her crop may never fully return to it's normal size. @azygous, what do you think?

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

Today was her last dose and I havent Seen a change in crop size and her body is so tiny. There is nothing to her other than the crop. Again, I did See her poop this morning so something is making it through I guess She still tries to keep up with every birdie else too. I couldn’t even sleep last
Night because I was Worried about her. thank you all for your help and support. I am Fairly new to this and this just breaks my heart!

 

[Sandy2003]

Today was her last dose and I havent Seen a change in crop size and her body is so tiny. There is nothing to her other than the crop. Again, I did See her poop this morning so something is making it through I guess She still tries to keep up with every birdie else too. I couldn’t even sleep last
Night because I was Worried about her. thank you all for your help and support. I am Fairly new to this and this just breaks my heart!

I would check with the others but the books always say that you should make her vomit. If nothing is changing she’s going to starve. Be very careful and make sure all the fluid is out before you take her up. It worked with my chicken Waffles her crop is full. I should warn you that it’s probably going to come back and will not really go away (as you can see it’s still pretty large just not as bad). Again this is what I do and it does make a difference and all the books say to do it. Go with your gut, I hope she feels better!

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

Is waffles an Amber link? She’s beautiful! And I do see it....ours name is Popcorn. And I’ve been calling her busty. Lol. I will Try. We do massage it a lot and try to make her throw up How long does it usually take? Maybe I’m not doing it long enough?