Crop issue with meatie

[Farmettehopeful]

My brother had noticed a larger crop on one of the Cornish X about a week ago and it is only getting bigger. I massaged it this evening and within seconds she vomited a few tablespoons up and then went straight to the feeder. I came back and tried again but she did nothing this time and as soon as released, went back to the feeder. Is she in immediate danger? The butcher date is within a week but I don't want her to suffer between now and then. I read about the baking soda mixture down her throat thing but that scares me, I don't want her inhaling it! Any other suggestions (other than the at home surgery idea) or should I process her now?

 

[Beekissed]

How about offering some grit free choice for your birds, if you haven't already. Could be she just needs some help with digestion and things get slowed down a little and has to be stored at the crop level while it's processing through the gizzard.

 

[Farmettehopeful]

I am still new to chickens so please be patient with me when I ask..does chick food have grit?

 

[Beekissed]

No, it doesn't. If they are still small birds, providing a little chick grit(about the size and consistency of sand) will help them process their feed. You can also moisten their feed and that will help lube the tubes a little also.

You can place the grit in the pen and offer it free choice....you don't have to sprinkle it on the food, no matter what the bag may say. They will really get into it right away and it will look like they just discovered some new treat...but that will taper off when they have sufficient amounts to grind their food. Then you might see them occasionally peck in it for more but not as much as when you first put it out. They seem to know exactly how much they need and then will take no more, so don't be frightened that they will "fill up" on grit and not eat their foods.

This is my CX at 2 wks with their first pan of grit and wood ashes:

 

[Farmettehopeful]

Thank you, I will give it to them today!