Guidance on impacted crop or sour crop

[Knicholson]

Hi i need some help with my 5 month old black sexlink named Stella. I couple days ago I noticed she wasn’t as active as the other 7 chickens I have, she was slower to come out of the coup then would just stand by herself out in the run. The others did not bother her, she was drinking water but not eating! She laid down in the run and would close her eyes. We thought maybe she was egg bound but then she laid an egg while she was laying there! She was very slow and would only move around once in awhile most of the time she laid in the run closing her eyes. We brought her in an started feeling her crop since I noticed it looked fuller and she hadn’t pooped a whole lot. I gave her some olive oil mixed with warm water in a syringe while we massaged her crop. We did that yesterday a few times for her and kept her in a dog crate with some apple cider vinegar water. I’ve been looking everything up as I go since I’m new to this and want to do the right things! I had a telephone call with a local vet and she suggested giving her pumpkin and putting her back out with the rest so she can move around more. But she also told having construction sand in my run is bad for her. I thought construction sand (all purpose) from Lowe’s was okay for chicken runs. I just want to help her get better. She is alert in the crate and did poop a tiny bit. Can someone please give me some guidance?

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi!

Some say construction sand is fine, some say it's not, but regardless, I doubt that's causing the issue. Sometimes people just have a yard of sand hauled out, and that's probably masonry or construction sand. I do know you don't want the fine stuff.

The two best crop articles on BYC are so informative and should help you immensely! They will help you discern what, if any crop disorder she has, and how best to treat it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

and

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/

 

[Knicholson]

Thank you so much

 

[Knicholson]

Update on Stella, she was very alert this afternoon maybe since she drank acv water all day and started to poop in the crate. We have been massaging her a few times a day. She was looking around in the crate and scratching and acting normal plus her tail plopped back up! I gave her some scrambled eggs made with olive oil which she pecked at and seemed to like. After we massaged her this evening before her friends went to roost we put her back out in the coop with them and she was running around like normal! At dusk she ran with the others up into the coop for bed. I’m gonna keep my eye on her but hopefully whatever it was is past. I’ll check her in the morning when I open their door. Thank you for the resources on this site!!!

 

[Debbie292d]

Update on Stella, she was very alert this afternoon maybe since she drank acv water all day and started to poop in the crate. We have been massaging her a few times a day. She was looking around in the crate and scratching and acting normal plus her tail plopped back up! I gave her some scrambled eggs made with olive oil which she pecked at and seemed to like. After we massaged her this evening before her friends went to roost we put her back out in the coop with them and she was running around like normal! At dusk she ran with the others up into the coop for bed. I’m gonna keep my eye on her but hopefully whatever it was is past. I’ll check her in the morning when I open their door. Thank you for the resources on this site!!!

You're very welcome! That's such good news that she's seeming to be her old self again! Hopefully, that does it!