Chicken Stretching Neck & Shaking Head Abnormally. Airbag Squishy Crop

[SkyAJK]

Hello
Please help.
I have a 1.5 year old Wyandottee - Goldie, recently she often stretch out her neck & shake her head in an abnormal way.
Goldie behaves normally, eating a lot, lay egg, poop normally, and hang out with her flock. In addition to the the abnormal head shaking, she is also has squishy crop and it is feel like an airbag.
I gave her epsom salt drink 4ml in the morning and 4ml in the evening, her crop emptied the next morning, but it is still feel like an airbag. The head stretching and shaking is less, but she still doing it.
This morning I gave her worm medication as I do not know what else to do, might be she has crop worms?
Here is a video of her doing the stretching and shaking of her head and neck.
Thanks

 

[OceanGirl]

My Buff orpington, 4 years old, is doing exactly the same thing today. Does anybody have any advice? She also has a puffy crop.

 

[SkyAJK]

Hi OceanGirl, how is your girl doing now?

I am putting her on no food today, her crop size is half the size it was this morning. She still doing the head shake, but not as much. This afternoon, I gave her 3ml of epsom salt drink to flush out her crop. I will give her some ACV mix with water tonight and no food.
She poops solid, wanting to eat like crazy and she has not lay her egg today so far. She is isolated today.
I don't know what wrong, the cause or treatment/s. I just simply try to clear her crop for now and see what next.
Does anyone successfully treated this condition?

 

[OceanGirl]

This morning her crop was basically empty, yay! She has stopped stretching her neck out for now. Yesterday she was standing still and not really interested in food, this morning she's acting normal. I'll probably go get a few supplies today such as epsom salt drink. I haven't done ACV in a while so I'll add that to her water today. We lost another bird recently to an unknown infection, even after a stay at the vet, so I am a bit jumpy about losing another. Hoping her clear crop is a good sign. How is your girl today?

 

[ChicNmom]

Hi,
I hope both of your girls are better.

Here is a good crop article that may help.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[SkyAJK]

​

OceanGirl, that is excellent news about your girl.​

As for my hen, I massaged her crop late last night, and this morning it cleared half way, no swollen like a balloon anymore, but some food still in there. Last night she was doing her neck and head quite a lots.I have not seen she does that this morning so far.
This morning I gave her another 3ml of epsom salt drink, eggyork, a little bit of soaked pellet and a vitamins liquid mixed in her water.
Not much has changed really. But today I will give her epsom salt drink 3 times a day and see how it goes.
I still isolate her, but with a friend so she is not feeling lonely.
She is still active, wanting to eat, poop solid, that those are a good signs.
Thank you for the link ChickNMom. At the moment, I would like to try the natural way first.

 

[SkyAJK]

I am very sorry to hear about your other hen, OceanGirl.
You can get epsom salt and mix the drink yourself.

 

[SkyAJK]

Update: She still doing that stretching neck and shaking head, but not often.
Her crop is emptied one day, and then back to being balloon again and so it goes back and forth. Each evening before bed time I give her a gentle crop massage and it seems to help with emptying her crop. Less stretching neck and shaking head.
I don't know what else to do about it for now. She is doing her chicken things, laying egg and doing her stretching neck here and there.

 

[Bewellchicky78]

My Buff orpington, 4 years old, is doing exactly the same thing today. Does anybody have any advice? She also has a puffy crop.

Have you guys tried the oil and warm water thing ....?

 

[Bewellchicky78]

Update: She still doing that stretching neck and shaking head, but not often.
Her crop is emptied one day, and then back to being balloon again and so it goes back and forth. Each evening before bed time I give her a gentle crop massage and it seems to help with emptying her crop. Less stretching neck and shaking head.
I don't know what else to do about it for now. She is doing her chicken things, laying egg and doing her stretching neck here and there.

Have you tried the oil and warm water thing . Check into it I think it might have helped my little chicken... Just be careful of the airway ... You gotta look it up I'm not sure of the details either left side of mouth is off limits or was it the right side ..? I didn't know about it when I did it to my chicken , but it worked out.