Chicken acting like it can't swallow! Is this normal?

[PrettyChickens15]

I have never wormed.
Have 11 hens.
I live in the very southern tip of Illinois. Like 30 mins from Kentucky.

If I test one chickens poop and she has worms, does that mean the whole flock also has them or do I need to test them individually? I felt her crop this morning and it feel like all the other chickens. Kind of squishy.

Would this work?https://www.statelinetack.com/item/...ce^c-plaid^343888087406-sku^446563-adType^PLA

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I felt her crop this morning and it feel like all the other chickens. Kind of squishy.

Some have used that service to send in a sample. It may be the cheapest way to go.

I was looking at your IL state lab and all submissions for them have to go through a vet, each state is different. If you have a dog/cat vet, they may be willing to run the test for you, won't hurt to ask.

Do all your birds have squishy crops in the morning? What do you normally feed and do you provide a source of grit?

 

[PrettyChickens15]

I do have a cat and dog vet. I will ask them about the test.
I felt three chickens to compare their crops to the hen in the video. I'm not 100% sure I'm feeling in the right place.
I feed them layer pellets and have tried putting oyster shells in a raised dish in the coop for them, but they always end up knocking it over or it gets really dirty.
Occasionally I'll give them a bit of corn, meal worms, scratch grains or a suit block.

 

[PrettyChickens15]

The crops felt kind of squishy just like their breast which makes me think I'm feeling in the wrong place.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You can attach a small cup of oyster shell to a post in your coop or run, that keeps it cleaner. The girls will pick up what they need.

O.K. Can you get your hen and stand her on a table or something, they are easy to control that way. Pull her gently to your body, this helps hold her too. Gently feel her right side of the breast - you should feel the crop if she has been eating. It will feel like a lump or beanbag under the skin.

It may be easier to see on my Leghorn - she's a very good eater, but see the right side of her? She has a bulge on her breast - that is the crop.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Please ignore her dirtyness LOL We've had sooo much rain and she really likes to get in the mud

Here's another of Krissy, I like to stand my girls on a table in the run, it's easy to handle them this way, I "capture" them against my body so I have a free hand. If I pulled her against me the way she is standing, I would take my right hand and run it down her right breast side to feel the crop.

 

[andreanar]

YOu are getting good advice. Good luck.

 

[PrettyChickens15]

Okay thank you so much!!

 

[PrettyChickens15]

Okay I felt a couple hens crops and now I am sure I am feeling in the right place.
The chicken with the problems crop felt firm. The other chickens crops I felt were also firm. Like bean bags, but harder. The hen Sunshine who had the problem is now acting fine. I'll do the fecal test, but other than that should I just not worry about her and just assume she was just having trouble swallowing something that day? Thank you guys for all the help

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Glad you found it!

I would check Sunshine one more time, first thing tomorrow morning, if the crop is empty/flat then I think you're good to go