empty crop at roost time

[embrown]

Hello,

I have a 20 week old pullet who was very, very sick a few weeks ago. We nursed her back to health, at least most of the weigh. However, I have noticed that her crop is never full, like the other 5 girls, she is not laying. She is a Bard Rock. She was sick from mold that grew in the over filled feeder when being cared for by a neighbor. I have kept the whole flock on yogurt, almost daily, OACV daily in both waterers. They all are eating layer feed, have access to grit and shell. She is still up and around, mostly back to her old self, except she does not seem to peck as much as she used to. She did gain weight back, but the keel is still noticeable. Both tonight and last night she seemed to have an empty crop at roost. Today she and the others were inside all the beautiful day because we were gone, and yesterday she was outside in their confined, but open bottom to eat grass, pen. Her crop was empty both places she spent her time in. She has unlimited access to food and water. Other birds are all having regular full crops. She has a sib who is also a bard rock, same aged, not laying, and her crop is much smaller than the others, but is noticeably full. I am just worried about my girl. Maybe she is not quite all better, maybe getting sick again. What would cause an empty crop at roost time? What can I check for? How can I help her gain weight, eat more, and get to laying? 4 of the same aged birds are laying and 2 are not. I just think she may not be eating. I checked her perch position just now and will note her pooh in the morning, but I have not seen any "bad" pooh anywhere in the coop lately. What else can I check for that might help explain why she may not be eating enough or going to bed hungry/empty? I do not want to wait until she is too sick or gone? Thank you, for any help as I am worried,
Beth

 

[Smoky73]

There is a good possiblility that since you reintroduced her back to the others, that the other girls arekeeping her at the bottom of the totem pole and not allowing her to eat, and now, she is getting to weak to try. Just a guess, as you did not say you seperated her, or for how long or how long she has been back to being reintroduced.

I would seperate her again, and start feeding her boiled egg, and anything else you can find she will take, sometimes mine like tomatoes. Give her a good healthy supply of vitamins, (I use Avian Super Pack I buy online) Also, when the birds are looking listless, I start to think maybe worms or Coccidiosis, so those are considerations as well, seeing her resistance is low from being sick.


I have recently combined about 7 young silkies to a small bunch (4) of older hens and some of the younger ones have been having empty crops too, all day, like yours. I noticed yesterday two older hens were int he food dish (Seperate times) and both would peck the young ones heads when they tried to eat. I moved them quickly to another pen with a different color. That is how I noticed something going on with mine anyway.


Oh and IF you can get her better, I would put her in a seperate pen, and introduce the others to HER one at a time so that she has a better chance.