How to get a slow crop to function normally in 5 week old chick?

[MysteryChicken]

Hello, I need a little assistance?

He over gorged himself on food one morning 4 days, ago. He ended up with a blockage the same day, it took two days to get rid of the blockage.
I found plastic in the wood chips so I suspect it was the cause of the blockage.

I did the 24 hour wait to see if his a little larger then a golf ball sized crop would go down over night, & it didn't. So that's how I figured he had a blockage.


His crop is passing food, but not like it should be. It's only emptying about half way, over night. He is pooping, so I know his crop is passing food.
His crop is just being very slow to empty.

How do I fix this?

I have no way of separating him, so I have to do things a bit differently.


If this helps any, they are being treated for Coccidiosis.

I've been putting them to bed earlier to help with emptying the crop, but it doesn't work.

 

[MysteryChicken]

The feeder is a jar dispenser that let's them free eat, so I know he wasn't starving. He just woke up with a ravenous appetite.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello, I need a little assistance?
View attachment 2398768He over gorged himself on food one morning 4 days, ago. He ended up with a blockage the same day, it took two days to get rid of the blockage.
I found plastic in the wood chips so I suspect it was the cause of the blockage.

I did the 24 hour wait to see if his a little larger then a golf ball sized crop would go down over night, & it didn't. So that's how I figured he had a blockage.


His crop is passing food, but not like it should be. It's only emptying about half way, over night. He is pooping, so I know his crop is passing food.
His crop is just being very slow to empty.

How do I fix this?

I have no way of separating him, so I have to do things a bit differently.


If this helps any, they are being treated for Coccidiosis.

I've been putting them to bed earlier to help with emptying the crop, but it doesn't work.

The feeder is a jar dispenser that let's them free eat, so I know he wasn't starving. He just woke up with a ravenous appetite.

Have you tried separating him and withholding food for 24hrs? Make sure he's got water and I wouldn't put him on straw or shavings while isolated (he may fill up on bedding, they do that sometimes).

If he did ingest plastic and it's causing a blockage, I don't know what you can do to clear that.
When you feel the crop is it's hard/soft/liquid?

Some birds eat a lot, but it's odd that he is gorging so much - is he being kept from food by the others?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Have you tried separating him and withholding food for 24hrs? Make sure he's got water and I wouldn't put him on straw or shavings while isolated (he may fill up on bedding, they do that sometimes).

If he did ingest plastic and it's causing a blockage, I don't know what you can do to clear that.
When you feel the crop is it's hard/soft/liquid?

Some birds eat a lot, but it's odd that he is gorging so much - is he being kept from food by the others?

I have no way of separating him.

When I felt his crop the day I removed his food, & put them to bed. His crop was somewhat hard, & a little squishy. This is the day before I suspected a blockage, it was a test. I thought he just over ate, & I wanted to be sure.
The crop didn't go down.

They all eat equally. He doesn't get pushed around by his friends.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have no way of separating him.

When I felt his crop the day I removed his food, & put them to bed. His crop was somewhat hard, & a little squishy. This is the day before I suspected a blockage, it was a test. I thought he just over ate, & I wanted to be sure.
The crop didn't go down.

They all eat equally. He doesn't get pushed around by his friends.

It would be good to find a way to separate him out. If it's not emptying and he's still loading up it's not going to help.
If you can't find a way, then I would give him some coconut oil (about 1 teaspoon) twice a day. IF the crop is hard or doughy, give it a massage (like kneading dough) but careful not to push food/water up enough to aspirate him. Mine like the massage, if he seems uncomfortable, then stop.

@azygous may have some more tips for you. I would worry about the plastic causing a blockage which you may not be able to clear at all.

 

[Eggcessive]

Does he have granite poultry grit for his age available to help his gizzard grind up feed? Plastic or other material (hardware, glass) can get caught in the gizzard. Hopefully, things will start moving through. Are you giving them only chicken feed, and no snacks, scratch, or other things he might gorge on?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Does he have granite poultry grit for his age available to help his gizzard grind up feed? Plastic or other material (hardware, glass) can get caught in the gizzard. Hopefully, things will start moving through. Are you giving them only chicken feed, and no snacks, scratch, or other things he might gorge on?

Yep, he got grit a few days ago. Should I offer a bit more?

The only treats they ever had was a hard boiled egg a week ago.

They had a piece of shrimp 2 days ago though.

 

[MysteryChicken]

It would be good to find a way to separate him out. If it's not emptying and he's still loading up it's not going to help.
If you can't find a way, then I would give him some coconut oil (about 1 teaspoon) twice a day. IF the crop is hard or doughy, give it a massage (like kneading dough) but careful not to push food/water up enough to aspirate him. Mine like the massage, if he seems uncomfortable, then stop.

@azygous may have some more tips for you. I would worry about the plastic causing a blockage which you may not be able to clear at all.

Maybe I can put in a cardboard divider? Some how. It's the best I can do. I don't have a second waterer right now.

I give him crop massages occasionally, but haven't given him coconut in awhile since he's been drinking plenty of water.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would just make sure he has access to grit at all times. A heavy bowl or coffee can can be used for a waterer. My chickens use regular plastic waterers in summer, but in winter I use black rubber gallon bowls and heated dog water bowls. A dog crate makes a good separation spot, and I have used plastic netting stapled to the walls to make a divider in a coop. Fencing works well too.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I would just make sure he has access to grit at all times. A heavy bowl or coffee can can be used for a waterer. My chickens use regular plastic waterers in summer, but in winter I use black rubber gallon bowls and heated dog water bowls. A dog crate makes a good separation spot, and I have used plastic netting stapled to the walls to make a divider in a coop. Fencing works well too.

Our dog crates are at my grandpa's house, & I have no place to set them in our house. They're too large.