Brahma Adjusting Crop Frequently

[Aunt Angus]

Howdy. I have a 7 month old Brahma who adjusts her crop frequently. She eats layer pellet and free ranges (mostly grass). She acts normal otherwise. She's always done the yawning, neck stretching thing since she was a few weeks old. I check her crop every morning, and it seems fine, empty, flat.

Is this just something some chickens do? Or might there be an underlying issue?

My gut tells me she's fine, but I'm not super knowledgeable about this stuff yet. A few searches all suggest impacted crop, but if it empties every night...

Those of you who "know" me know I'm a worrier. Sorry.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The more she eats the more she needs to adjust. What protein percentage is your layer? Feeding a higher protein ration can generally make them eat less.

She's also still growing and may not be getting enough protein on a layer, so she will eat more.

As long as she's acting fine otherwise I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Aunt Angus]

16%, but I also give worms, egg, leftover, plain Greek yogurt/skyr, steak/fish/etc on occasion - maybe 1x per week. She eats a TON. As big as she is, it's hard to think of her getting bigger - LOL!

Should I give her more protein?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

16%, but I also give worms, egg, leftover, plain Greek yogurt/skyr, steak/fish/etc on occasion - maybe 1x per week. She eats a TON. As big as she is, it's hard to think of her getting bigger - LOL!

Should I give her more protein?

I personally prefer to feed a higher protein ration. 18-20% year round. A ration is a balanced feed. Adding extras sometimes imbalances the diet if it's more than roughly 10%. Free range birds can often balance their own diet of the range is diverse and of good quality.

I personally never feed a 16% ration, nor a layer. A large breed like a Brahma will continue to grow for 2-3 years. They should at least be fed a grower until a year or so in my opinion, but lots of ways to feed.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I personally prefer to feed a higher protein ration. 18-20% year round. A ration is a balanced feed. Adding extras sometimes imbalances the diet if it's more than roughly 10%. Free range birds can often balance their own diet of the range is diverse and of good quality.

I personally never feed a 16% ration, nor a layer. A large breed like a Brahma will continue to grow for 2-3 years. They should at least be fed a grower until a year or so in my opinion, but lots of ways to feed.

Good advice. Makes sense. Def something to consider. I have a mixed flock. Would a ration be ok for my other girls? I have Cochin, BR, and BO. Or maybe a higher protein pellet? I have a grand total of 4 pullets. I'd like something easy, if possible.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Good advice. Makes sense. Def something to consider. I have a mixed flock. Would a ration be ok for my other girls? I have Cochin, BR, and BO. Or maybe a higher protein pellet? I have a grand total of 4 pullets. I'd like something easy, if possible.

I personally feed an All Flock with a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs. Purina makes a flock raiser that comes in a pellet. I switched off a layer about 6 years ago and haven't looked back. My birds are much healthier and I don't see calcium deposits on my eggs anymore or rough shells. I prefer for my hens to self regulate their calcium intake sine not all lay at the same rate, and many take breaks.

When I'm raising chicks I also feed a non medicated starter grower where the chicks can get it and eventually switch them over to the all flock when they can eat pellets.

 

[aart]

Brahma's are eating machines....and kinda lousy layers.
One of mine had a pendulous crop, came that way as an adult.
They're pretty, and sweet, but I got rid of them.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Brahma's are eating machines....and kinda lousy layers.
One of mine had a pendulous crop, came that way as an adult.
They're pretty, and sweet, but I got rid of them.

My brahma is a great layer of the most perfect eggs I've seen. Lays every day. But, eating machine is right! And she's a pet, so it doesn't really matter to me.

Now, were I relying on my pullets for production, I would def think about her differently. Not worth the cost, I'm sure.

 

[aart]

They were good as pullets...but older not so much.

 

[Aunt Angus]

They were good as pullets...but older not so much.

I will keep that in mind.