Egg bound or crop issue?

[Wyorp Rock]

I have felt for one but I’m just not sure how far back to palpate her abdomen. Nothing strikes me as obviously being an egg. I feel what may be one but it seems kind of far back and I can only feel it on my left, so maybe it’s an organ. I try to feel others to compare but they don’t let me feel around much before becoming antsy.

No never been dewormed. Could that be something that would explain a slow crop and not laying for a few days?

A lot more poop under the roost this morning than yesterday. But not good looking poop. Crop is smaller but now feels doughy. I’ve provided apple cider vinegar in her water and she’s eaten some coconut oil and plain Greek yogurt. I did massage her crop a bit and will continue to do so throughout the day.

How is she doing?

With a doughy crop, giving the coconut oil and light massage is a good idea.
Keep that up and see how it feels in the a.m.

Often a crop is slow due to something reproductive going on, but worms could cause digestive issues as well.
See if she gets through this and lays an egg, but deworming her may be needed as well.

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

 

[alinas2010]

How is she doing?

With a doughy crop, giving the coconut oil and light massage is a good idea.
Keep that up and see how it feels in the a.m.

Often a crop is slow due to something reproductive going on, but worms could cause digestive issues as well.
See if she gets through this and lays an egg, but deworming her may be needed as well.

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

We are slowly getting the crop to a smaller size. Last night it was the size of a ping pong ball and that is good progress compared to what it has been. I don’t want to jinx it but things seem to be looking better for her. Still no egg, which is weird for her to go this long without laying. Her poops were bigger and more solid last night. And she’s more active and feisty and isolating less. I can tell she doesn’t feel 100% but I’m going to continue treating her to crop massages and coconut oil. Hopefully she can get back to feeling like a normal chicken. I may end up deworming as fall sets in, as suggested. You may be right about reproductive issues, just based on her breed I would not be surprised, unfortunately. Thanks for your help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We are slowly getting the crop to a smaller size. Last night it was the size of a ping pong ball and that is good progress compared to what it has been.

But what is the crop like first thing in the morning?
At night, the crop should have food/water and be full.

 

[alinas2010]

But what is the crop like first thing in the morning?
At night, the crop should have food/water and be full.

Not empty this morning, but smaller than it had been. Had not been eating a lot today but was active and participated in more chicken activities than the previous few days. She did eat some warm mash before bed. Hopeful she is on the right track.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Not empty this morning, but smaller than it had been. Had not been eating a lot today but was active and participated in more chicken activities than the previous few days. She did eat some warm mash before bed. Hopeful she is on the right track.

Sounds like she's slowly improving.
I hope she makes a full recovery.

 

[alinas2010]

Sounds like she's slowly improving.
I hope she makes a full recovery.

I hope so too, thank you. I’ll update again tomorrow morning.

 

[alinas2010]

Success! Flat crop this morning, ran straight out for some scratch and BSFL! But some weird poop under the roost..a little bloody/mucoid - hard to tell because of the sand.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Success! Flat crop this morning, ran straight out for some scratch and BSFL! But some weird poop under the roost..a little bloody/mucoid - hard to tell because of the sand.

That's good news!

I'd continue to monitor the crop. Giving the coconut oil for several more days won't hurt anything.

Did you happen to save that poop? If so, can you dig out the pinkish object, see if it's squishy and if possible, cut it open?
I know - an odd request.

She's not laid an egg yet? Is she acting any better - more active/alert, etc.?

I'd monitor the poop too, if you see another like that try to break it apart and get photos of the different components.
Hard to tell what it is, could be some membrane or just mucous from the crop being slow.

 

[alinas2010]

That's good news!

I'd continue to monitor the crop. Giving the coconut oil for several more days won't hurt anything.

Did you happen to save that poop? If so, can you dig out the pinkish object, see if it's squishy and if possible, cut it open?
I know - an odd request.

She's not laid an egg yet? Is she acting any better - more active/alert, etc.?

I'd monitor the poop too, if you see another like that try to break it apart and get photos of the different components.
Hard to tell what it is, could be some membrane or just mucous from the crop being slow.




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It’s funny you say that, I did save it to compare any poop in the morning to. I poked about it a little this morning, I thought it was weird because as you eluded to, it was more like a membrane surrounding something, not messy or sticky like I would expect mucous to be. But I did not cut open, I will tomorrow.

No, no egg today either, but she is active and alert. Seems interested in treats and forages with the others. But, I was sad her crop wasn’t that full tonight, not like it should be. She has interest in treats and mash when I hand feed her, but she must not have eaten much during the day, judging by her crop.

I will keep doing coconut oil and encouraging her to eat.

 

[alinas2010]

Well. French Fry started a molt about a week after this crop issue and is now pretty heavily into it. She seems to isolate herself and eat much less the past few days. I have been bringing her warm mash made from her feed mixed with a raw egg and canned chicken at night if I feel her crop is flat and she does eat that. This is the first molt she’s gone through as an adult. Is it normal for them to seem “off” and isolate and not eat much during a molt? She still hasn’t laid an egg since she was ill and now obviously is molting. Picture of her molt for reference - not a hard hard molt, but not a soft one, either.