Crop impacted hen

[Chicken Lass]

I've got a small Lakenvelder hen (Telitha) that I feel most certain has crop impaction. She started looking droopy in her comb and wattles, and her feathers started looking a little rough. I didn't think much of it at first, because I figured she was getting ready to moult. She's only a little over a year old. Her crop is packed full, probably as far as it can go, and I can smell something sour when she opens her mouth. I tried giving her a small bit of canola oil at first and massaging her crop - all to no avail. Then I tried once feeding her a scrambled egg soaked in olive oil, as I read on here to do, and massaged her. Again, it didn't work, although she gobbled almost the whole egg up. I wonder if this whole impaction started with her eating pine shavings. I noticed one day that they were purposely eating them. If I have to, I'll take her to whatever vet I can find that is willing to do a chicken, which is hard around here and I know it will not be cheap. Anyone have any other suggestions that I could try? If I keep feeding her egg with oil is that going to help her or hinder her? Thanks!

 

[PamB]

Sounds like you are trying everything you can for her. It may be time for a trip to the vet.

I had to do crop surgery on one of my hens a couple months ago. I found directions online. She is doing well so far...back out with her friends and not having any crop issues. I'm not sure about whether or not the egg with oil would hinder her at this point. With mine, she was to the point that barely anything was passing through her. She was essentially starving to death. It is a tough thing to deal with. I hope you can find a vet in your area that can help. If not, (which was my case) look up some threads on crop surgery. I never thought I'd be able to do anything like that, but I couldn't watch her suffer any longer. Best of luck to you!!

 

[NewToFarming]

Is the crop very hard and firm or does it feel like more of a balloon filled with water?

 

[Chicken Lass]

Thanks for your quick replies! Her crop isn't exactly rock hard - I gave her some warm water tonight and moved it around, maybe the water loosened it up. I think it may have been hard before that. It's more like a full bean bag, if that helps. Unfortunately she is losing weight - I noticed her feeling more skinny. Maybe there is something just blocking the rest of her food from getting through, I don't know.

 

[NewToFarming]

I would continue with trying the oil and massage but if it doesn't break up in there soon you might have to take her to a vet or do the surgery yourself. I have used oil soaked bits of bread in the past. I hope you can get things moving in there!

 

[Chicken Lass]

Thanks! Maybe I'll try the bread/oil tomorrow. I wonder if there's some way I can get her the stuff she needs via soft food, at least until I can get her to a vet. I don't want her to starve. Would yogurt pass through? I think somehow the water must.

 

[pippsqueak]

I've had multiple crops that have been overly full. I massage them for a while and I give them Apple Cider Vinegar (with the "mother") mixed in their water and yogurt. It helped a lot! I have heard that some people have to cut it open and clean it out but, mine never got that bad plus I would never be able to do something like that. I have also heard that you are more likely to kill your chicken by doing that unless you know what you are doing. Also after it gets all cleared up you can continue to add the vinegar to maintain a healthy crop, just know that if you have metal waterers that it will rust it. Hope all goes well!

 

[Chicken Lass]

Thanks! The vinegar sounds like a good idea. I'm going to give her some yogurt and maybe chicken broth to try to sustain her until she either clears up or I end up taking her to the vet.

 

[Phenomenon]

Apple Cider Vinegar is great as a nutritional supplement, perhaps once every two weeks - 10ml per litre of water. As for the crop impaction, perhaps if she was to abstain from eating for 24 hours and you keep her up with the olive oil and water and regular crop massage? Failing that if the crop becomes so impacted it becomes solid it's unlikely you'll cure it without either a visit to the vet or - as someone above mentioned - you do it yourself.

 

[ErinG]

We too did a surgery on our banty hen. She ate straw and it became impacted. Some food will get through, like you said yogurt and other soft things. I would continue to feed her things like that, you will want her to have her strength if she needs surgery. I wouldn't wait too much longer, the earlier you do something the better her odds. We tried oil and massage and it didn't do anything. She did great with surgery and was out with her friends within a week! Good luck.