Crop filled with liquid and not emptying

[cluckingheck]

I have a 24 week old SS cockerel named Little Dude that I noticed had a slightly purplish comb yesterday. I felt his crop and it all just felt like a big water balloon, but I couldn’t smell anything sour. Well, I just checked him this morning and his crop felt like it only emptied very little and it still feels the same way it did yesterday.

I think it’s worth mentioning that I’m not sure how long his crop hasn’t emptied. Their waterer was completely dry when I got home from work yesterday ( around 4 ) and that’s when I felt his crop. I should also mention that he’s a bit of a failure to thrive? He’s 24 weeks old but doesn’t look it and never really put on any weight at all. Though, he’s always been active and never had any issues until now.

 

[cluckingheck]

@Wyorp Rock @aart @casportpony

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos of him and his poop?

Work on hydrating him if the water station ran dry. Get some electrolytes into him.
Have you treated for worms or coccidiosis recently?

If the crop is not emptying overnight, then read the article below to begin treating him.

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

 

[cluckingheck]

Can you post some photos of him and his poop?

Work on hydrating him if the water station ran dry. Get some electrolytes into him.
Have you treated for worms or coccidiosis recently?

If the crop is not emptying overnight, then read the article below to begin treating him.

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

His crop was still full yesterday even though their waterer was dry. So, I mentioned it because that makes me think it hasn’t emptied for the past two nights but I don’t know. I haven’t treated yet, but I had planned on doing so for worms. I have valbazen but I can’t use it when his crop isn’t emptying.

I checked this morning before leaving for work and he was still on the roost, so I know he didn’t eat or drink anything before I got there. It was still full of water; about plum size? Somewhere in between a golf ball and baseball but more on the baseball side.

I didn’t take any pictures of his yesterday or this morning, but here’s some pictures of him from a few days ago and a week ago. I’ll get pictures of him once I’m off of work but that won’t be until 2.

 

[cluckingheck]

here’s a picture of him. My brother took it and I asked them to separate him

 

[Eggcessive]

I would think about treating for coccidiosis with Corid at the maximum dosage. It won’t hurt your others to treat them as well. He could have a chronic case of coccidiosis that is preventing him from absorbing nutrients. That sometimes may cause a slow to empty crop. A young one can be kept from food or water as well. Dosage is 2 tsp (10 ml) of the liquid Corid or 1.5 tsp of the powder, per gallon of water for 5-7 days. Probiotics are also helpful for gut health, and a little plain Greek yogurt or buttermilk mixed into some food a couple of times a week, can be helpful for those.

With active young chickens, it is always good to have more than one waterer. They can jump onto them and turn them over, and some poorly designed ones can leak out. I always have 2 waterers just in case. We never know when we might be held up at work or have an emergency that prevents us from providing water.

 

[cluckingheck]

I would think about treating for coccidiosis with Corid at the maximum dosage. It won’t hurt your others to treat them as well. He could have a chronic case of coccidiosis that is preventing him from absorbing nutrients. That sometimes may cause a slow to empty crop. A young one can be kept from food or water as well. Dosage is 2 tsp (10 ml) of the liquid Corid or 1.5 tsp of the powder, per gallon of water for 5-7 days. Probiotics are also helpful for gut health, and a little plain Greek yogurt or buttermilk mixed into some food a couple of times a week, can be helpful for those.

With active young chickens, it is always good to have more than one waterer. They can jump onto them and turn them over, and some poorly designed ones can leak out. I always have 2 waterers just in case. We never know when we might be held up at work or have an emergency that prevents us from providing water.

I have a mixed flock and my ducks play in the water more than they drink it. I have a big 8 gal, a 3 gal & a 1.5 gal.

Anyways, I should try treating for sour or an impacted crop? It feels like a water balloon but I couldn’t smell any oder at all. He’s trying to drink a lot but I didn’t see him eat when I got home yesterday. Also: should the corid be included in the treatment or should I try to treat his crop issue first and then start treating him with corid? I have the powder kind

 

[aart]

Is he pooping?

This is what I do when I have a bird that is 'off'......
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[cluckingheck]

Is he pooping?

This is what I do when I have a bird that is 'off'......
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

I asked my sister in law and she said it was a yellow liquid poop. My mom gave him vinegar water but should he have that? He’s in a mesh pop up tent right now in the yard, so he still has some company

 

[aart]

I asked my sister in law and she said it was a yellow liquid poop. My mom gave him vinegar water but should he have that? He’s in a mesh pop up tent right now in the yard, so he still has some company

I like to stick with a good chicken ration and fresh plain water until I have a better idea what exactly is wrong and the best way to treat it....then only one treatment at a time so as not to complicate the symptoms.