Gluttony

[gunslinger33]

is my cockerel a glutton or is this normal? He eats to the point his crop is noticeably distended. He is 10 weeks old. His crop feels mushy.i have smelled his mouth and no sour odor. He is very active. I have noticed this for about 3 - 4 weeks. No matter how distended his crop is he will continue to eat. His poop is normal at times and loose other times depending on his daily water intake.

Thank you

 

[trudyg]

Is his crop down in the morning, after a night without food? If yes, I'd maybe pull the food and make him free range more to get him moving. What breed is he?

 

[gunslinger33]

Bielefelder

I don’t have any protection for him to free range. Their run is 8x 40 and they have cleaned it out.

They all ate quite a bit of zucchini on Friday but his seems to be more distended than the rest.

I think it could have something to do with him being low man on the totem pole. I have two Orps that are 2 weeks older that push him around.

 

[trudyg]

As long as he's acting normally, I don't know that I would worry too much. Just watch and monitor and then you'll be on top of it if and when something goes wrong.

 

[gunslinger33]

Thanks you your help. I will isolate him for the next few days. I’m hoping I don’t have to cull him.

 

[IBB]

I have a silkie pullet that is total glutton. I monitor her food but if there is none there she will eat dirt, bedding or whatever she can find. Her crop is huge all the time and she developed sour crop. She has had it cut open and emptied but hasnt helped. Any suggestions?

 

[centrarchid]

Topping off / complete filling of crop is typically done in the early morning and just before going to roost at least. When it gets really hot during middle of day it often does not take place then. Immature birds are more consistent about doing it and all do it more when in heavy molt and weather is cool.