Bulging Crop-No grit inside

[WilcoxChickens]

When I went to check on my 5 weeks olds today I found one, who is usually right up in the middle of the group, hanging by herself in a corner of the pen. When I picked her up I found that her crop was bulging and felt very soft and squishy. I tipped her upside down, kept her neck straight and gently pressed on the crop and she threw up a bit of liquid.

I'm not sure what else I should do. I tried this a bit more and after awhile she stopped throwing up but the crop is still large and squishy. These girls have only been outside once and it's been at least 5 days since then. They were in an area where they could have access to the lawn as well as to peck any dirt that they would have needed to.

Up until today I've had no issues with this batch but I haven't picked them up in the last few days to check them out.

Ideas?

Thanks.

 

[RonC]

Could be impacted but it's not good to squeeze their crop. The grit collects in their gizzard further down the digestive system. Sounds like you have had chickens before so you should be familiar with what their crop looks like when full. I have heard giving some olive oil in a dropper can loosen and cause what ever it is to move along the digestive system. Might search the emergencies/disease section of the forum while waiting for another more knowledgeable person to answer.

 

[WilcoxChickens]

I cannot determine what is going on with this chick's crop. She is eating and drinking and when I felt the crop today it felt like it had food in it. I only feed crumbles. It's still large and none of the other chicks have crops that I can readily feel at all, even after eating. I've put this little girl into isolation and provided a small bowl of water and olive oil. I'm not comfortable with shoving an eye dropper down her throat at this point BUT the crop doesn't feel like it's impacted and when smelling her mouth it doesn't smell sour either. Just like the chick feed they get.

I'm sort of worried about this little girl. She's always been small and when I brought her home she had no fluffy tail feathers and a mild case of pasty butt. I cleaned her butt a few times and it went away but at 5 weeks she still has NO tail feathers at all. She's always cowered in the corners and the other chicks usually push her around or jump on her. I've also been noticing that she's been stumbling when she's walking around the pen with the other chicks. Like she can't keep her balance.

We REALLY don't have money to take a chick to the vet for a professional opinion, especially when the nearest one is an hour drive away.

I'm going to continue with the isolation and watch to see if she is passing anything and go from there. As I said in my initial post, last night the crop felt soft and squishy and I did make her vomit. Nothing but fluid. Today, after I personally watched her eat, I can feel the food inside the crop and while it's still soft and slightly squishy, there is more firmness to it. I just feel bad for my little girl as she's so small

 

[WilcoxChickens]

Still no feedback??

Well, an update anyhow and maybe someone will have something to offer.

She's passing food. She's already pooped twice in the box she's in. I can't tell if she is passing fluid because of the shavings she's in. I felt the crop again and the food I was able to feel earlier is no longer felt but the crop is still distended, soft and squishy.

She just stands there, all fluffed up and doesn't move :*( It's hurting my heart to see her like this.

 

[JanetS]

Could you at least call a vet? Explain whats going on. Maybe they can tell you something over the phone. Poor thing. I hope she gets better soon.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

From past and current experience... Do not squeeze a chickens crop. My dad did that and one started getting air under the skin and died.
Current experience, one of my chicks get a squishy crop every time i allow it to free range. It eats a bunch of clover then drinks a lot of water. I just leave it be, it's up moving around, seems happy and healthy. So I wont worry about it. It's a rooster, So when I butcher if i can cut open the crop and let ya know what is going on from the inside of it, But i'm pretty sure it's just due to eating a lot of clover and then drinking a lot of liquid.