Crop obstruction: Does she need surgery or more time?

[CactusAdjacent]

I've been nursing a hen who started off infested with NF mites, had a crushed foot and a crop the size of a softball. The mites and foot are going in the right direction, but I'm still worried about her crop. It's much smaller (still a little distended but it was PACKED with dirt when I got her) but still gets hot to the touch and makes her flinch back when I massage it. I've been doing it 3-4 times a day and just felt something hard and long in there. It feels like a small bone or stick, maybe 1.5", small enough to escape notice until now. I really don't want to do surgery, but if it's necessary to save her I'd rather get it over with.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Have you tried giving her cold little chunks of coconut oil to try and soften it?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Here's an article you may find helpful:

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

 

[CactusAdjacent]

Have you tried giving her cold little chunks of coconut oil to try and soften it?

I hadn't, I'll give her some and see if it helps any. Awesome article, great info!

 

[Anon112]

I hadn't, I'll give her some and see if it helps any. Awesome article, great info!

Coconut oil was like a magic bullet for one of my hens dealing with a crop issue. Though she didn't have anything hard/sharp, just a big lump that felt like playdough.

 

[Anon112]

I should add that the tip to have it cold so it's in chunks is really great. With mine, once she tried a piece she loved it and went nuts for eating it, but if you have to give it, it's more like a pill than a liquid which makes things so much easier.