HELP! Severely impacted crop!

[sixlittlechickens]

Our month old Silkie bantam is having a huge crop issue. It will not empty and is swollen to almost the size of a tennis ball. She has been eating water, medicated starter/grower food, chick grit and plants. We now have her in a box with water and grit. Any advice greatly appreciated! Will post pictures later.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Try gently massaging the crop, making sure to be extra gentle.

 

[M Brennen]

I had an older bird that needed her crop massaged to expel the contents of her crop.

 

[sixlittlechickens]

Thank you, we did try that. I'm afraid it's beyond that point now.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is some reading about treating crop disorders:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/


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

 

[One Lucky Momma]

Dang. Scary. An impacted crop, sounds like it could be a fairly common occurrence that ought to be listed in the books under troubleshooting, but I can’t find it.

Is she pooping? That would be a good sign. I’m an old nurse, and to me, that advice about gentle massage sounds real good until and unless something better comes along. There are some incredibly knowledgeable folks on this forum who might know more.
I hope she’s amiable to your handling. I suspect she knows you’re trying to help.
Good luck!

 

[sixlittlechickens]

Thank you for your advice. Here are a few photos. We held her upside down and rubbed her crop, and she spit up a bit of the blockage. Her crop still is enlarged, pendulous and feels gritty, like she ate too much grit. Hasn’t pooped all night either. She’s alert and peeping though.

 

[sixlittlechickens]

Update: I fed her chick feed softened in warm water with olive oil, and that seemed to help. She finally started pooping. She is doing a lot better now.

 

[sixlittlechickens]

We were able to get her to spit up the blockage. She ate half a scrambled egg and a bit of water. Her crop is normal size now, but completely filled with grit, which she has been eating to get rid of the blockage. Is this an issue?

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

We were able to get her to spit up the blockage. She ate half a scrambled egg and a bit of water. Her crop is normal size now, but completely filled with grit, which she has been eating to get rid of the blockage. Is this an issue?

It’ll pass. Good job though