Craw problem

[FKellogg]

I have a hen that is having craw problems: for the second time this summer she is suffering threw a blocked craw.....does anyone have any suggestions

 

[Kiki]

Read this first:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/

Then the thing to do is figure out what is causing this and try to prevent it for the future.
What do you feed them and do they have access to grit all the time?

When you say craw...I'm assuming your mean crop, right?

 

[FKellogg]

Yes crop!!! Lol
I feed then laying pellets in the am and early evening I let them free range and when I put them back in their pin I give them scratch
So yes I would think they are getting plenty of grit

 

[Kiki]

Are you offering grit?
Sometime just "free ranging" they don't find the right "rocks" they need to break up the stuff they eat.

 

[peterlund]

You are not offering them long plucked grass when they are in their pen are you? They will instinctively tear off smaller pieces off grass from plants, but if given strands that are not anchored for them to tear off a bite sized piece they will eat it whole.... like us slurping a long piece of spaghetti. Problem is they can't digest such a wound mess of fiber... crop bound hens were a real problem for me at first.... never again.

 

[FKellogg]

No...no grass.
I do give them oyster shell and we have a gravel driveway that they are always milling around. Is there any other grit I should be offering?

 

[Kiki]

Yes...something like this:chicken grit

 

[FKellogg]

Ok!! I'll get some tomorrow....thank you so much.....I didn't know such a product existed!