Egg bound/impacted crop

[Inaneggshell]

Our 7 1/2 mo old Cream Brabanter, Pricilla, was laying eggs normally for a couple of weeks, then I noticed her cloatia would prolapse, she would have difficulty laying, but finally pass an egg. On Dec 24th she became egg bound, we took her to an avian specialist who lubricated her uterus and she came home to finally lay her egg on the 27th. Per the doctors orders we were giving her Clavamox, Benebac, and Metacam and changed her food from Scratch and Peck Layer to Organic Purina Pellets. She ate very little for a few days after laying her egg and continued to eat very little barely eating the layer pellets. She and the 18 other chickens (1 rooster) are free range. She seems to prefers bugs and grass. On Jan 7th she tried to lay an egg without success and as far as I can tell has not tried since. On the 16th I noticed her crop was very full and this morning not empty (full and hard, feels like there is grit). I suspect she has an impacted crop possibly partly due to not passing an egg. She drinks a lot of water, has watery stool and is distant from the flock (now we have her inside). This morning I have been massaging her crop which she enjoys, nearly falling asleep. I have read about coconut oil, olive oil and yogurt. Any helpful experience and suggestions are very needed. Please be bold in your advice as we care deeply for our chickens and want to help Pricilla.

 

[Inaneggshell]

Correction~cloaca

 

[Inaneggshell]

Our 7 1/2 mo old Cream Brabanter, Pricilla, was laying eggs normally for a couple of weeks, then I noticed her cloatia would prolapse, she would have difficulty laying, but finally pass an egg. On Dec 24th she became egg bound, we took her to an avian specialist who lubricated her uterus and she came home to finally lay her egg on the 27th. Per the doctors orders we were giving her Clavamox, Benebac, and Metacam and changed her food from Scratch and Peck Layer to Organic Purina Pellets. She ate very little for a few days after laying her egg and continued to eat very little barely eating the layer pellets. She and the 18 other chickens (1 rooster) are free range. She seems to prefers bugs and grass. On Jan 7th she tried to lay an egg without success and as far as I can tell has not tried since. On the 16th I noticed her crop was very full and this morning not empty (full and hard, feels like there is grit). I suspect she has an impacted crop possibly partly due to not passing an egg. She drinks a lot of water, has watery stool and is distant from the flock (now we have her inside). This morning I have been massaging her crop which she enjoys, nearly falling asleep. I have read about coconut oil, olive oil and yogurt. Any helpful experience and suggestions are very needed. Please be bold in your advice as we care deeply for our chickens and want to help Pricilla.
[/QUOTE

Update~ This afternoon Pricilla’s poop is mostly water, small pieces of grit and soil. She is still separated from the other chickens in our spare room. I offered her yogurt, no interest. I have removed her regular feed as I have seen treatment for an impacted crop would be no feed which may cause further impaction. Her crop has loosened up a bit. She is alert, but lethargic. If you need more information please let me know. Tomorrow I will contact the Peninsula Poultry Breeders to see if they can help. Thank you for any insight.

 

[kingstonfarm]

Has her demeanor gotten better since her crop smaller? Does she seem happier?

 

[Inaneggshell]

Unfortunately, Pricilla seems the same quiet and still. I am hoping by morning her crop will be empty. In the morning I will check with professional chicken folks. Thank you for asking.

 

[OffGridChook]

Did Pricilla recover? I came across your post when searching for info for one of my girls.

I noticed she did not enthusiastically run out of the coop to eat when I opened it (I remove their food from the run every night). I went into the coop and I had a couple sunflower seeds and she pecked at in my hand. I checked her crop and sure enough, it was full. She had grass clippings the day before and I thought maybe I did not cut them short enough.

After I checked the other three, I noticed one of eggs under the roost in the bedding. It was hard shelled but had calcium build up on it. (Everyone has distinctly different egg shapes, hers are long). I took her into the house and Massaged her crop. She did have one normal stool and then a couple watery ones. I gave her bits of firm coconut oil, waited a second for it to melt and then massaged again. I did this three times over three hours and then suddenly I felt warmth on my leg. I thought she went to the bathroom but it was that AND a soft shelled egg that had just torn (hopefully when it fell on the floor). I massaged again and now I’m just waiting for her crop to go down more before I let her back in the run. I noticed a small roundworm in her stool as well. She’s my problematic hen, if it’s not worms, it’s bumblefoot.

She’s obsessed with grass clippings which I think I have to stop because of worms and possible contamination of avian influenza if it comes here. Hopefully she’s out of the woods. I hope your girl made it out okay.