Hen Appeared with Feathers Missing, Exposed Crop??

[Chickflick29]

Hoping someone has some idea what’s happened, and if anything needs to be done.

Our Delaware girl, Clarice, was 100% fine this morning when I went to tend the flock. She disappeared for a few hours (we free range on our hobby farm), and I assumed she was laying an egg. This afternoon, however, my husband noticed that since she’s returned her chest feathers look to be missing/very stuck together and her crop is bare. She’s acting normally otherwise and doesn’t seem sick, in pain, etc. She’s never been a plucker. It happened out of the blue!

Does anyone know what could have occurred?? I’m not sure whether her crop looks normal or not, I’ve never dealt with something like this. We haven’t tried cleaning it as I’m not sure what condition her crop is in and didn’t want to cause pain or trauma.

Photos attached are from our flock check in the coop this evening, she was very put off by the interruption lol.

 

[GodLovesU]

I had an older hen who had something like this for a long time.Never figured out what it was.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hoping someone has some idea what’s happened, and if anything needs to be done.

Our Delaware girl, Clarice, was 100% fine this morning when I went to tend the flock. She disappeared for a few hours (we free range on our hobby farm), and I assumed she was laying an egg. This afternoon, however, my husband noticed that since she’s returned her chest feathers look to be missing/very stuck together and her crop is bare. She’s acting normally otherwise and doesn’t seem sick, in pain, etc. She’s never been a plucker. It happened out of the blue!

Does anyone know what could have occurred?? I’m not sure whether her crop looks normal or not, I’ve never dealt with something like this. We haven’t tried cleaning it as I’m not sure what condition her crop is in and didn’t want to cause pain or trauma.

Photos attached are from our flock check in the coop this evening, she was very put off by the interruption lol.

I would go out and gather her up, inspect the area for any wounds or cuts. See what may be on the feathers that is making them clump together.

She's been plucked or the feathers pulled. Watch to see if she's pulling at or scratching at the crop area herself or if others are plucking at her.

Check the crop first thing in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink, make sure it's emptying. Right now, it just looks like a full crop with no feathers in the photo, so if it's emptying, then that will be good.

 

[Chickflick29]

I had an older hen who had something like this for a long time.Never figured out what it was.

Interesting, did your hen eventually get through it?

 

[Chickflick29]

I would go out and gather her up, inspect the area for any wounds or cuts. See what may be on the feathers that is making them clump together.

She's been plucked or the feathers pulled. Watch to see if she's pulling at or scratching at the crop area herself or if others are plucking at her.

Check the crop first thing in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink, make sure it's emptying. Right now, it just looks like a full crop with no feathers in the photo, so if it's emptying, then that will be good.

I will definitely be checking her crop in the morning, thank you for the helpful info! Poor girl.

I monitored her after we noticed it had happened, and she seemed to preen the area a bit but wasn’t plucking or spending an odd amount of time fussing over the area. She is usually top hen, but I’ll be keeping track of her flockmates closely as well in case they’re to blame. We’ll plant reconvene and get her cleaned up tomorrow.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I will definitely be checking her crop in the morning, thank you for the helpful info! Poor girl.

I monitored her after we noticed it had happened, and she seemed to preen the area a bit but wasn’t plucking or spending an odd amount of time fussing over the area. She is usually top hen, but I’ll be keeping track of her flockmates closely as well in case they’re to blame. We’ll plant reconvene and get her cleaned up tomorrow.

What did you find out?

 

[Chickflick29]

What did you find out?

Her crop was emptying normally and her demeanor hasn’t changed! We still aren’t sure what was on her, but she’s been cleaned up a bit and her feathers cover much of her crop again now that they’re “floofed up”. It did seem a bit like egg residue, we think she did manage to break one and perhaps got plucked by herself or her friend. She’s in good spirits though, back to hunting bugs and destroying tomatoes in the garden

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her crop was emptying normally and her demeanor hasn’t changed! We still aren’t sure what was on her, but she’s been cleaned up a bit and her feathers cover much of her crop again now that they’re “floofed up”. It did seem a bit like egg residue, we think she did manage to break one and perhaps got plucked by herself or her friend. She’s in good spirits though, back to hunting bugs and destroying tomatoes in the garden

Glad to hear she's o.k.!