Is the crop that long hard organ in front of the chickens throat? I have tried applesauce and stool softener yesterday and epsom salts today and it's still there. What should I do?
The crop is on the right side of the "chest/breast" area of the chicken. What you are feeling is most likely bones/esophagus/windpipe. A normal crop will feel and like a "ball" or "lump" on the breast when the chicken has eaten and is full. It will gradually go up and down as the day goes along when she eats/drinks/poos. At night the crop should be full and in the morning feel fairly empty. Feed her a good poultry feed, provide fresh water, grit and oyster shell (if she is laying eggs). Limit treats to no more than 10-15% of daily intake. Here's some links that show pictures of what a crop looks like: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour.html https://poultrykeeper.com/digestive-system-problems/digestive-system-chicken/
comment on the procedures outlined in chicken-chick's link given (see post above): i strongly advise against "pouring a squirt down the chicken's throat"; if the chicken aspirates which is highly probable, it's dead in a minute or two.
