One of my Jersey Giant hens has repeatedly had problems with crop impaction. Twice I had done the emptying surgery and always massaging her crop. It is always the same. She had stuffed herself with sticks and any plastic she can find.
She was not a pet chicken. We have pet chickens. We also have layers and dual purpose. What I found in her crop and gizzard was astounding. She had eaten no food.
Her crop was filled with sticks up to 2in long and a plastic fork that she apparently had broken up and eaten, pieces of black plastic garden pots (nursery type), and a few feathers. The fork must have been from our 4th July dinner outside. Looking over the flower pots in the garden she had been reaching through the fence and had been pecking holes in them.
There were no rocks, grit in her gizzard, food, grass, anything. What causes a hen to think the inedible is really good? We had planned on putting her on the table at the end of summer so to me it was not worth spending more time on this hen that seemed very confused over what food is.
She was not a pet chicken. We have pet chickens. We also have layers and dual purpose. What I found in her crop and gizzard was astounding. She had eaten no food.
Her crop was filled with sticks up to 2in long and a plastic fork that she apparently had broken up and eaten, pieces of black plastic garden pots (nursery type), and a few feathers. The fork must have been from our 4th July dinner outside. Looking over the flower pots in the garden she had been reaching through the fence and had been pecking holes in them.
There were no rocks, grit in her gizzard, food, grass, anything. What causes a hen to think the inedible is really good? We had planned on putting her on the table at the end of summer so to me it was not worth spending more time on this hen that seemed very confused over what food is.
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