Crop not emptying ? Have to help every few weeks

[jus10inla]

Roughly 6-8 months old; 90% sure shes a easter egger / mutt. Anyway ever since shes been about 3 months old, ive had to help her empty crop every few weeks. Eats / drinks fine, not bottom of peck order. no problem with egg bound.

the way I normally do it is feed her a tablespoon or so of coconut oil. Gently massage for few minutes and she spits alot out; and by next morning shes good to go for few more weeks. Shes the only one in my flock of 25ish that has this problem…


what else can i do? See attached photos; and u can see her breast is rubbed down / no feathers where she lays in box or dust bathe

 

[azygous]

Everything else being accounted for, it may be she isn't getting adequate grit. It may be she isn't picking it up from the soil or the soil is mostly clay and doesn't afford the proper type of grit, clay particles being rounded and useless to process food. Try buying granite grit and sprinkling it on the ground where you have the feeders.

Louisiana has loamy and clay soils, neither containing much in the way of useful grit. You need to buy grit if you aren't already.

 

[jus10inla]

i buy a 5 lb bag of oyster shell and mix it in with the 40 lb layer & 50 lb all floock monthly. (My feeder can hold 150 lb of feed) its on a angle so feed comes as they eat .

they will peck it out and leave it on ground.. or will be the only thing left end of month. Ive tried adding it on side. Tried oyste shell or grit, but let me throw a duck egg in there or crack an egg when collecting and they lose there marbles

 

[azygous]

Oyster shell is calcium carbonate, melts in water. It doesn't work as grit. You need hard gravel - granite. Granite is not water soluble like oyster shell. Granite grit is what most chicken keepers give their flocks.

 

[jus10inla]

They wont eat any of these 3. When given free choice in separate pan or mixed in with there feed

 

[ShrekDawg]

They will eventually when they need it. They don’t need much as it lasts a little while in the crop so it will look like they’re not eating it. But still need to provide it.

 

[jus10inla]

So how can i boost my girl who desperately needs it now

 

[ShrekDawg]

So how can i boost my girl who desperately needs it now

That I’m not sure on. You could try getting an anti fungal if you think it’s sour crop? Might be worth a try.

 

[azygous]

Chickens crave grit every day just as laying hens crave oyster shell. You do not need to force feed it. To get your chickens accustomed to the grit, sprinkle some around their feeders and they will find it.

Grit is essential to chicken digestion. It's a strong instinct to scratch in the dirt looking for it.

Chickens with impacted crop crave grit obsessively. Chickens with sour crop won't. To determine if your chicken has a crop disorder, check the crop in the morning before the chicken eats or drinks. It should be flat and empty. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[jus10inla]

, it feels fibrius / gritty when massaging the crop. This more explains what she has. Once it drops it wont empty.