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.

 

[CactusAdjacent]

Well, it's definitely a hard object in there, but it doesn't seem to be doing any harm. Her crop is emptying normally and shrank even more overnight, she's eating, drinking and pooping (still mostly liquid) so I guess I'll just keep an eye on things for now and hope for the best. @Anon112 turns out mine loves it too, she got very indignant when it was all gone

 

[Anon112]

Well, it's definitely a hard object in there, but it doesn't seem to be doing any harm. Her crop is emptying normally and shrank even more overnight, she's eating, drinking and pooping (still mostly liquid) so I guess I'll just keep an eye on things for now and hope for the best. @Anon112 turns out mine loves it too, she got very indignant when it was all gone

Do you have any vets nearby who might be willing to do an x-ray to determine what the object is?

The only other thing I can think of is to offer grit (if you aren't already---I don't always because the ground where they live and range has plenty of little rocks) to maybe help break it up.

Maybe slather the grit with coconut oil!