Help with crop impaction!

[Illia]

I have another Turken pullet, about 5 months old now, who, this morning, would not get up and leave her shed with the rest of the chickens. This morning was much colder than usual, and I first thought she was just too cold to leave the building, because she was just fluffed up and shivering in a corner. But, I don't think that is really the problem. It is now past noon, and she still won't walk much or even eat anything I offer (and this girl normally eats ANYTHING) I inspected her whole body, and the only problem she seemed to have was a loss of weight due to no food consumption, and a hard crop. Could this be crop impaction? Because I have felt it before and it always feels slightly hard, but it is already bulged and she hasn't eaten anything today. What is there I can do?

Edit: Okay, I've done some research, and I believe this certainly is an impaction. It feels like all the food I gave her yesterday is still sitting in there, like a giant bag. She tries to just nod off to sleep now, and won't even support herself. I'm really worried - I hear that oil helps, but I gave her some and don't know what to expect. Another form of treatment is to cut open and clean out her crop - is this really the best option?

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

I would bring her into the house and keep her warm and calm. Massage her crop; try to see if it will go down at all. Honestly, I don't know much of anything about impacted crop. Pm threehorses, she can help.

 

[Illia]

She's inside now - but it is later in the day and she is getting worse. I'm thinking this is a slight consequence from her eating soo much, but, that's chickens. . she's getting worse, and I certainly don't want to do something I shouldn't to treat her.

 

[LynneP]

Young birds can guzzle an amazing amount of food, it seems that as they gain experience they learn not to do it. These are my 2 impaction experiences, both resolved nicely, so I hope the situations might assist you. I'd get her started on oil immediately to soften and loosen the mass, and try lifting the mass to open the entrance to her digestive system to lube the gut. You'll need a dropper or a straw for this, described below-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-sick-hen

(scroll)

 

[Illia]

Well, I guess that's good advice for next time ( which hopefully will not happen. . ) Because she died, actually, about half an hour after I last posted. I think she had this impaction for a long time, which explains her hard crop for some time and her constant hunger that surpassed the other girls. When she was gone, I looked in the crop, and it indeed was one huge, tight bag of so much food I couldn't possibly see anything else fit in there!

 

[hen-thusiast]

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[LynneP]

I'm so sorry Ilia. I find that my older hens have the sense not to do that, but I had two guzzlers when they were younger. I guess what I learned is that spotting troubles early is great, but it takes experience and it's very hard to lose a hen...

 

[Illia]

Indeed it is - We now only have one turken. She's already survived an attack from a rooster previously (and I thank BYC greatly for helping along with that, she's doing great now) but I can't lose my last turken. . I love Turkens!