ANYONE? What should a healthy crop feel like?

[Carrie Lynn]

I've been reading about crop surgeries and wonder what a healthy crop should feel like.
I try to check them now and then before they go to roost for the night (after their last feeding).
To me, they often feel hard, so I'm not sure I'd know a too hard crop if I felt one.

Thanks in advance,
Carrie Lynn

 

[Carrie Lynn]

Anyone? I really want to know.

 

[Ksane]

You know those bean bag balls you squeeze to supposedly relax your hands? That's what a crop feels like. Like a nylong with squishy seeds in it.

 

[heatherkh]

It shouldn't feel balloon-like. Shouldn't feel hard as a rock, either. Ksane's description was perfect - a healthy drop that has food in it will feel like one of those bean bags.

All I can say is I didn't really know what a healthy crop was supposed to feel like, but when I was presented with an unhealthy one it was VERY obvious.

 

[Illia]

It highly depends on your birds' diet.


Normally it feels slighty firm with a slight give though, because what you're feeling is the feed, soaked up in water, which turns to a well packed mash.

Free ranging or other foods alter it though. People who feed their chickens a lot of scratch have hard lumps in there, people who do free ranging don't have as much of a "mashed potatoes" feeling to the crop, and people who do specialty whole grains diets feel more of a bag of beans type texture.

 

[nickie]

Exactly what ksane said, also there is a problem if it is not empty first thing in the morning. I check everybody when I head out with their daily ration and water in the morning while they are still roosting to make sure everyone is empty and again at night when I gather their feeder and water to lock up, making sure everyone is nice and full (maybe its a bit much, but its my routine).

 

[sandykopandy]

I"m sorry- I know this is an old thread. What do you do if the crop isn't empty first thing in the morning. My EE was starting to act low yesterday afternoon and this morning she was just sitting there- in a laying position but obviously just low energy and maybe ill. I held her for a while (something she wouldn't normally tolerate but did) and felt her crop- felt filled with sunflower seeds- I could feel that it wasn't empty. It's possible that she ate this morning but with the shape she's in, I doubt it. If it is a crop issue, what should I do?

 

[tortega18]

Please someone help !
This morning my hen went straight to the water bowl and was drinking LOtS of water!! Everyone else went for the food but she was the only one who drank water for so long. She had no interest in the food like everyone else. This afternoon I have them watermelon and she ate it. Wen I caught her her crop felt like a squishy water balloon. Kinda like a mass with water in it. I could firmly grab it. Is this normal or does she have impacted crop or sour crop?? New chicken owner here !!

 

[courtneyv]

Sandykopandy, what was the verdict with your hen? I have a hen with EXACTLY the same thing happening. Crop feels like a bean bag, but she hasn't eaten, so should it be like that? Should it be empty? She is very lethargic and will drink lots of water, but only when offered to her. I have her in the house in a crate now. Hoping for the best

 

[Sarah2020]

Sandykopandy, what was the verdict with your hen? I have a hen with EXACTLY the same thing happening. Crop feels like a bean bag, but she hasn't eaten, so should it be like that? Should it be empty? She is very lethargic and will drink lots of water, but only when offered to her. I have her in the house in a crate now. Hoping for the best

This is the same symptoms my chicken is exhibiting! She's falling asleep in her water dish.