Hen Puffed Up... what could be the problem?

[Wyorp Rock]

I didn't have her separated, but yes, when I felt her crop it was full, and mushy.

Is it dangerous to treat just incase it is truly sour crop?

No.

 

[Banty crazy]

Last night her comb did seem darker than than the other RIR's. She felt a bit light for a LF this morning. I'll go feel her crop. I haven't really noticed her eating, drinking, or pooping.

Have you felt her keel? If she’s thin it might be the cold or she’s not feeling well. Try some scratch with corn. The corn produces body heat which may help her stay a little warmer! Now that it’s getting cold mine get it at night to help keep them warm at night. What’s her poop look like?

 

[Banty crazy]

No.

A full mush crop just means she’s full of food and water. Try smelling her breath. If it’s sour crop it will smell bad.

 

[aart]

Is it dangerous to treat just in case it is truly sour crop?

NO but why treat if there's not really a problem.

Isolate and observe.

When I have a bird acting 'off',
and before I even think about any 'treatments' let alone administer them,
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.