Help diagnosing please

[mackielane]

My ladies are 19 weeks. 2 are waking up in the mornings with completely empty crops but by night are lethargic, crops feel huge like water balloons, one did vomit clear liquid. We started monistat 7 to clear any sour crop because that’s what we thought it was but now we aren’t sure. The clear liquid did smell disgusting from the one chicken but the others breath doesn’t smell bad. Poops look normal but flies are swarming it. We did switch them to layer feed recently because they did start laying (bag said to wait until first egg). Didn’t know if that affects anything. Temps have also been in the 90’s so they’ve all been drinking a lot. I’m at a loss and don’t want to lose my girls. Pic of the one that would let me get a pic. Morning compared to night. Please ask any questions. Help me out

 

[Tonyroo]

Sounds like it could be temperature related. When it's in the 90's better to not have there crop so full. Which requires less feeding and somewhere cool to hang out. When they're digesting there crop it releases heat in there body. Overheated, chicken will vomit, be lethargic, and stop processing food in there crop.

I usually feed my birds cold wet chicken feed mash to sustain them through the hotter part of the day. Putting a couple of ice cubes the mash also helps. Something I use to do when I had chickens.

 

[Bawkbok]

Azygous has a very good article on crop issues as well as Two Crows. There are many examples of crop issues and how to treat, sour vs impacted vs. pendulous. If you go to the "Articles" tab in the top banner, select the "Learning Center" and search articles for crop issues, you will see a plethora of great information. I'll search my bookmarks for crop issues to see if I can find one for you.

If a chicken drinks too much water at one time, they can spit or puke some out. It generally isn't a problem unless they keep doing it. Have you checked inside her mouth to check for lesions or sores? Does her breath smell like saurkraut? What does her crop feel like? Is it soft and squishy, hard like impacted, or doughy?
If it is empty in the morning, it sounds like things are processing properly.

Offer Oyster shell and grit in at all times separate from their feed. They will take what they need.