RumneyRoost
Songster
A little background on Speck. She’s a Speckled Sussex hen, at least 3 years old, possibly older, she was already laying when I got her 1.5yrs ago.
In November I got a new bird and Speck started sleeping in one of the nest boxes. She’s always the first to roost so I figured she just didn’t like the commotion.
The last two mornings (maybe longer, I’ve gotten lax about checking their crops since it’s light at 5am), she’s woken up with a full crop. She’s still acting normal, perky, eating and drinking, though it feels like she’s lost some weight. This morning I vomited her. It didn’t smell, just liquid. I set her down and followed her around for a few minutes, she must have eaten 10 earthworms in that time. She didn’t poop while I was out there. I’ll have to follow her around when I go back out.
I have a video, but I don’t know how to attach it? I noticed her doing this a few times this week. A weird head movement. It almost seems neurological, like she can’t control it. She extends her neck and moves in a quick circular fashion. Mouth is closed while she does it.
She has never laid a lot of eggs. At most every 2-3 days. First to stop in the fall and last to start up in the spring. She hasn’t laid an egg now in about two weeks which concerns me.
What would everyone do in this situation. Keep monitoring the crop? It’s soft and squishy, doesn’t smell, I can feel some grit in there, no impaction, not doughy.
Flock has been closed since November. Everyone has been healthy. Though they could come in contact with wild birds. I could deworm everyone just in case?
I’m mostly concerned that she’s older and there’s a reproductive issue. In which case I realize there isn’t much I can do.
In November I got a new bird and Speck started sleeping in one of the nest boxes. She’s always the first to roost so I figured she just didn’t like the commotion.
The last two mornings (maybe longer, I’ve gotten lax about checking their crops since it’s light at 5am), she’s woken up with a full crop. She’s still acting normal, perky, eating and drinking, though it feels like she’s lost some weight. This morning I vomited her. It didn’t smell, just liquid. I set her down and followed her around for a few minutes, she must have eaten 10 earthworms in that time. She didn’t poop while I was out there. I’ll have to follow her around when I go back out.
I have a video, but I don’t know how to attach it? I noticed her doing this a few times this week. A weird head movement. It almost seems neurological, like she can’t control it. She extends her neck and moves in a quick circular fashion. Mouth is closed while she does it.
She has never laid a lot of eggs. At most every 2-3 days. First to stop in the fall and last to start up in the spring. She hasn’t laid an egg now in about two weeks which concerns me.
What would everyone do in this situation. Keep monitoring the crop? It’s soft and squishy, doesn’t smell, I can feel some grit in there, no impaction, not doughy.
Flock has been closed since November. Everyone has been healthy. Though they could come in contact with wild birds. I could deworm everyone just in case?
I’m mostly concerned that she’s older and there’s a reproductive issue. In which case I realize there isn’t much I can do.
