First case of impacted crop - advice

[vantain]

Her crop was empty this morning, and the poop under her little roost was normal. She seems to be doing better. When the weather warms up a bit, I may take her out in the crate to be with her flock mates for awhile today. It has warmed up to 43 degrees, but is very damp out there. She has been inside now, in our basement, for the past three days.

 

[Eggcessive]

They quickly can forget her and readjust the pecking order, so getting her back, at least for frequent visits daily, would be helpful.

 

[vantain]

I have four birds in my flock. She was already the lowest in the pecking order. But yes, I was planning on taking her out there later this morning, but leave her in a wire crate in the coop with her own food and water. That way, they can interact with her for the day.

 

[vantain]

Was it suggested that you give this hen some oral calcium? If not, I think giving her some calcium would be .

I have been giving her crushed calcium tablets with her food

 

[vantain]

She has been enjoying her time out in the coop, in her crate, but she clearly wants more. I let her out to hang out with the others for about a 1/2 hour, and they all got along just fine. She went right back to foraging in their run. They have layer crumbles available all the time, fresh water, as well as free choice grit and oyster shells.

Do you think I should just go ahead and let her be with them free from the crate and see how it goes? I can separate her in the evening before roosting, and give her a little extra calcium and maybe some yogurt, and do that in the AM again too, then just let her spend the day with the others. Crop has been empty in the AM for two days now, and her poops look normal today. No more soft shells since yesterday.

 

[Eggcessive]

She probably would enjoy staying with them. That sounds like a good plan.

 

[vantain]

She is roosting with her flock mates tonight. She is the one on the far left in the attached photo. She did well with them this afternoon, very little drama, after being away from the others for three days.

 

[Eggcessive]

Aw, that is sweet, back with her buddies.

 

[vantain]

She laid a normal egg today! Yay! Good shell too. I'll keep up the extra calcium for a few days and monitor.

 

[casportpony]

She laid a normal egg today! Yay! Good shell too. I'll keep up the extra calcium for a few days and monitor.

That is great news!