Crop questions

[gluckgluck9000]

Hello,

My chickens have been molting for a little over a week, I saw this large lump and got worried, just to find out it was her crop. But it does look really enlarged and quite red, does anyone think it could be a sour or impacted crop? I felt it and it was semi squishy, I feel really bad picking them up right now though because they are so uncomfortable from the molting process. She is a year and 5 month old chicken, first molt, not laying, poop is runny.

Other than checking it tomorrow morning to see if it deflates a bit, is there anything else I should be doing or should I wait it out?

Images attached.

 

[Aapomp831]

The crop should empty overnight. First thing in the morning check it, before they have had anything to eat or drink. It should be flat after 8 to 10 hours with no food or water.

 

[StPaulieGirls]

We're in the same boat with a molting 1-year-old. We're keeping her energy up by hydrating her with tube-administered fluids and electrolytes, but not having any luck getting the impaction to break up and move.

I'm glad you live where it's warm! We're in the middle of a cold spell in MN: -8F later this week.

Good luck.