Dare I? Flatulence problem with hens

[Wol1]

The first one was in the infirmary already. She's had one problem after another since an impacted crop almost a year ago. At one point, she seemed to have mummified eggs. She was getting a distended belly, so I assumed the eggs were backing up in her and sought information to make the decision whether to put her down before she dies in agony. It was a real surprise to find out she had GAS. The images showed pockets of gas all through her intestinal system. I thought maybe they were fluid (ascites), but the vet said it was air. I was puzzled, but not alarmed since she was already a bundle of problems, until I picked up one from the main flock to look at her feet and she passed a LOT of gas. WHAT?!? I don't remember more than the occasional small gas noises in the past, usually with the ones that didn't like to be picked up. I started doing a bumblefoot check on everybody and found a few more with swollen gassy bellies. No bumblefoot though. YAY!

So, I gave them all yogurt yesterday. No extra oyster shell. I have been giving them the crushed eggshell for years, which they love. Maybe they need more grit than they're finding? We have lots of gravel around the barn of all shapes and sizes, but I will definitely put some grit out in their favorite gravel spot and in a hopper in the coop.

I guess some are just more susceptible to dietary changes than others.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Now everyone can "let loose" with the humor.