giant rock-packed crop

[technodoll]

My sweet little silkie hen has an obsession with eating rocks

She's waddling around with a giant, distended crop full of rocks and looks uncomfortable, but not ill.

She feels thin, I see her eating but her crop is so full of rocks I doubt she can get much nutrition in.

Crop isn't impacted, still elastic - I tried to give her a tablespoon of vegetable oil but she choked on it (did NOT want to swallow) and then I massaged her crop for about 5 minutes, it feels so heavy and gritty and full - will this pass on its own?

I won't allow her to free-range for a few days as she is only adding to the problem...

Any advice? Opinions?

Thanks so much!!

 

[RevaVirginia]

I'm sure a great answer is coming. As for now though, I believe that you not allowing access to pebbles by keeping her from free ranging sounds like a good intervention. Good luck

 

[technodoll]

I hope to get some advice on this...

will the rocks eventually pass?

is this dangerous for her health?

she's just gone broody, too...

 

[Wynette]

It's not good that she's gone broody...I'd put her in a cage with no nest box and a wire bottom if you have one; that should stop her broodiness. I'd treat this like impacted crop; do not feed for 24 hours and note the next day if her crop has gone down. If it has, then offer water with ACV - the acid should help. Then, I'd syringe olive oil several times a day and do VIGOROUS crop massages several times a day. When you can tell that the rocks are beginning to move down, slowly introduce food back, leaving the ACV/water in with her. You can also feed soft foods that are acidic like tomatoes and cucumbers. Chop finely.

It could be that she's lacking in some mineral...they will often eat things that they shouldn't if they're lacking in something. I use Avia Charge 2000 in all drinking water for all my breeds - it's specifically formulated for chicken and is water soluble (i.e., what they don't use, just passes through) so there's no danger in them getting too much, and it supplies everything they may be lacking in their regular diet.

GOOD LUCK!