- Jun 20, 2009
- 52
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7 month old BA with excellent appetite and energy but starting to get a little thin. I noticed her crop seemed a bit fuller than the others a few days ago but it was evening and I didn't think much of it at the time. Over the last couple days I've noticed that it is fuller earlier in the day. This morning I let them out and it's the size of a small grapefruit. (4 inches in diameter maybe) It's very squishy and pliable. The don't have access to hay or straw, just their layer mash, oyster shell and grit. They get sunflower hearts for treats with the occasional oatmeal and yogurt and applesauce and some fruit/veggie scraps that I make sure are cut up small. They free range in the afternoon/evening and eat grass. As I said no hay or straw around. It's a normal country yard, no telling what they could get into but I know there's nothing lethal laying around. Maybe corn silage from the cows but they don't usually go out by them. They also like to clean up under the bird feeders.
Her poop is normal but I saw a very water poop a couple days ago that may or may not have been hers. No clue. Several poops in the yard after they ate this morning and all of them look normal.
She did eat this morning with the other girls because I hadn't read yet about not letting her eat normally for awhile, but she's inside now in a cage with ACV water and oil soaked bread. She pooped once in the cage and it's nicely formed and colored and smells like...well...chicken poo.
I massaged her crop and don't feel anything like fibrous stuff. Just squishy like play dough. No bad smells from either end, thankfully! She's laying normally too and I got a nice egg from her already this morning.
Questions: How much ACV to a pint of water? Is too much a bad thing? I used 1/4 tsp to a pint. How much oil soaked bread should I let her have? She's had about 1/4th of a slice of bread (homemade whole wheat) soaked in about 1Tbls of oil. It's a blend of vegetable oils because I don't have any olive in the house right now.
I'd go searching for more answers here but I have an exam tonight I need to study for. Oddly enough it's on digestion, unfortunately it's a human anatomy not fluff-butt anatomy class!
ETA: No responses. Hmm. People are either busy having a life or I'm doing the right things so no need to comment. Upon further reflection and reading I'm thinking its a sour crop rather than a clog in the works. I guess I'll try upending her and see what comes out.
I hope I don't kill her off as she's one of my best layers. Oh, and I upped the ACV in her water to a couple tsps but my ACV is pretty old so I hope it still has the properties I need in it.
Her poop is normal but I saw a very water poop a couple days ago that may or may not have been hers. No clue. Several poops in the yard after they ate this morning and all of them look normal.
She did eat this morning with the other girls because I hadn't read yet about not letting her eat normally for awhile, but she's inside now in a cage with ACV water and oil soaked bread. She pooped once in the cage and it's nicely formed and colored and smells like...well...chicken poo.
I massaged her crop and don't feel anything like fibrous stuff. Just squishy like play dough. No bad smells from either end, thankfully! She's laying normally too and I got a nice egg from her already this morning.
Questions: How much ACV to a pint of water? Is too much a bad thing? I used 1/4 tsp to a pint. How much oil soaked bread should I let her have? She's had about 1/4th of a slice of bread (homemade whole wheat) soaked in about 1Tbls of oil. It's a blend of vegetable oils because I don't have any olive in the house right now.
I'd go searching for more answers here but I have an exam tonight I need to study for. Oddly enough it's on digestion, unfortunately it's a human anatomy not fluff-butt anatomy class!
ETA: No responses. Hmm. People are either busy having a life or I'm doing the right things so no need to comment. Upon further reflection and reading I'm thinking its a sour crop rather than a clog in the works. I guess I'll try upending her and see what comes out.
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