Enlarged craw…normal or a concern?

[PesterJay]

About 4 weeks ago, my local feed store ran out of the chicken feed I had been using so I bought a different brand. It had the same protein content, etc. I didn’t realize I was supposed to change food slowly so I just loaded their feeders with the new feed. Well…long story short, three hens died.

Seems like they have gotten on top of it now and are doing well except for one hen. She sometimes acts off and looks way off. Her craw is enlarged and sometimes she looks sulky. I isolated her for a few days but she did not think that was proper. She continued to eat and drink and was very anxious to get back with the others. I put her back and she is still acting fine but her craw never goes down. Is this normal?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

That’s not normal, she could have an impacted or sour crop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/. It’s also not normal for chickens to die due to a feed switch. Maybe the feed was moldy or expired?

 

[MysteryChicken]

About 4 weeks ago, my local feed store ran out of the chicken feed I had been using so I bought a different brand. It had the same protein content, etc. I didn’t realize I was supposed to change food slowly so I just loaded their feeders with the new feed. Well…long story short, three hens died.

Seems like they have gotten on top of it now and are doing well except for one hen. She sometimes acts off and looks way off. Her craw is enlarged and sometimes she looks sulky. I isolated her for a few days but she did not think that was proper. She continued to eat and drink and was very anxious to get back with the others. I put her back and she is still acting fine but her craw never goes down. Is this normal?
View attachment 3382022

Looks like she may have an impacted crop. To clear the blockage, give either olive oil, or coconut oil, & massage until it shrinks in size, then you know she's in the clear. NEVER MAKE A CHICKEN VOMIT, FYI.

I never introduce new feed slow, I put my birds on it right away, never had problems.


What feed did you use?

 

[MysteryChicken]

That’s not normal, she could have an impacted or sour crop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/. It’s also not normal for chickens to die due to a feed switch. Maybe the feed was moldy or expired?

Was thinking the same about mold.

 

[PesterJay]

Looks like she may have an impacted crop. To clear the blockage, give either olive oil, or coconut oil, & massage until it shrinks in size, then you know she's in the clear. NEVER MAKE A CHICKEN VOMIT, FYI.

I never introduce new feed slow, I put my birds on it right away, never had problems.


What feed did you use?

Ok that’s good to know. The feed was great and I changed to Dumor layer feed.

I do run into an issue trying to treat her…she’s the wildest hen in the flock. I saw somewhere that I should feel it for a blockage or yeast. It’s real squishy. I felt a hen’s crop that looks normal and it felt the same. The big difference is in the size.

 

[PesterJay]

Btw, is it a “craw” or “crop”? I’ve heard it both ways.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Btw, is it a “craw” or “crop”? I’ve heard it both ways.

Crop.
I've never heard of craw, except in Crawfish though.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Ok that’s good to know. The feed was great and I changed to Dumor layer feed.

I do run into an issue trying to treat her…she’s the wildest hen in the flock. I saw somewhere that I should feel it for a blockage or yeast. It’s real squishy. I felt a hen’s crop that looks normal and it felt the same. The big difference is in the size.

Does her breath smell, sour? Squishy makes me think sour crop. Smelly breath will confirm.

 

[PesterJay]

Does her breath smell, sour? Squishy makes me think sour crop. Smelly breath will confirm.

I don’t know. I’d have to try catching her again. She’s a wild child.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I don’t know. I’d have to try catching her again. She’s a wild child.

Update when you're able to check her breath?