Howdy!! :) + ADVICE ASK

[mabeljunesbiggestfan]

Hi!! I'm new to keeping chickens of my own, but I've taken care of them for years. While I'm starting small with one hen and another soon to arrive, I'm trying my best to give my current chicken-- Mabel June-- the best of care. She arrived at my home after being henpecked, for the two weeks we've gotten her, she's been the friendliest chicken I've known.
Sadly, she's had some digestive problems since arrival; about a week in, she spat up water, so I treated her as you would sour crop (although I may need to do it again). She seemed better and has a regular-feeling crop, but today she spat up (very professional term) a little water and some grain remnants. Any advice? My guess is that she's gorging herself before we get the other chicken in because she's used to having her food stolen. I may start taking her food away periodically; her access is already limited a bit. (*note: she almost always lays)
Anyways, on that not-so-lighthearted note, here's Ms. June herself!!

 

[Tookie]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Check her crop early in the morning before she eats or drinks anything and see if her crop is empty, if not then she may indeed have sour crop.
Is she lethargic at all?

 

[mabeljunesbiggestfan]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Check her crop early in the morning before she eats or drinks anything and see if her crop is empty, if not then she may indeed have sour crop.
Is she lethargic at all?

Thank you! She doesn’t appear to be lethargic; she runs around and is always eager to get out of her coop. I’ll make sure to check her crop in the morning! Any tips or tricks for sour crop?

 

[Tookie]

She doesn’t appear to be lethargic; she runs around and is always eager to get out of her coop.

Those are good signs!

I’ll make sure to check her crop in the morning! Any tips or tricks for sour crop?

Well, it's best not to withhold food or water from a chicken with sour crop.
Here's an article on how to treat.->
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[My Three Chicks]

Aw is Mabel June a Speckled Sussex? I have one of those and she's my wild child. She is also a lap chicken and is always under my feet.

Good luck with her and your chicken adventure!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Yes, check her crop function.
How old is she?

 

[mabeljunesbiggestfan]

Those are good signs!

Well, it's best not to withhold food or water from a chicken with sour crop.
Here's an article on how to treat.->
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Thank you for the help! I’ll check it out.

 

[mabeljunesbiggestfan]

Aw is Mabel June a Speckled Sussex? I have one of those and she's my wild child. She is also a lap chicken and is always under my feet.

Good luck with her and your chicken adventure!

Yep, she’s a Speckled Sussex! She loves to get up in my business, but I like to bother her, so it cancels out. Thank you!

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens. Ms. June Is Beautiful the Best of Luck with her! And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I am sorry she is having issues. Some birds do spit up water occasionally, however the best way to check if this is crop trouble is to check her crop first thing in the morning before she has had any food or water. The crop should be completely empty. Run your hand down the front of the right side of her breast. If it's got anything in it, she is having trouble. If it's empty, and her breast is completely flat, then the spitting up is being caused by something else. (You can only check the crop in the morning when it should be empty, otherwise during the day it will have food or water in it.)

If you feel she has a crop issue, you can post in our Emergency forums for more help here... https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/

Pretty girl she is!