I BELIEVE THAT MY ROOSTER HAS STUFF STUCK IN HIS CROP

[puckttm]

PLEASE HELP I BELIEVE THAT MY ROOSTER HAS STRAW OR WHATEVER IN HIS CROP. I JUST CHECKED ON HIM AND HE NOW HAS A LARGE BULGE N THE FRONT OF HIS NECK AND IS STILL JUST SITTING THERE. THIS IS MY FIRST ROOSTER WHAT SHOULD I DO! I JUST SEEN WHERE SOMEONE PREFORMED SURGERY ON THEIR HEN BUT I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD DO THAT OR WANT TO DO THAT. HE HAS BEEN LIKS CROP... HE HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE THIS MORNING. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT HE HAD AN EYE ISSUE BUT AFTER READING SOME POSTS I NOW THINK IT IS HIS CROP.. PLEASE HELP....

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Have you tried to gently and carefully massage it? Or have your tried giving him Olive oil (or some other cooking oil)?

 

[puckttm]

IMIXED SOME APLE CIDER VINAGER WITH WATER AND ATTEMPTED TO GET HIM TO DRINK, I ALSO DABBED SOME OLIVE OIL ON THE TOP OF HIS BEAK, AND MASSAGED HIS NECK SOME,. HE DID REWARD ME WITH A LITTLE NOISE AND I HAVE MOVED HIM TO MY BACK PORCH BY HISELF. I WENT AND CHECKED HIM AGAIN AND HE HAS MOVED POSITIONS IN THE BED I MADE HIM. I HOPE I AM DOING THE RIGHT THINGS...

 

[robinaggie]

I read that massaging their necks is helpful. Try giving more cooking oil. Make sure he drinks water.

Is there anyone out there at BYC who can give better advice?

 

[robinaggie]

I found this online:
People often suspect something is wrong with a chick or chicken if their crop is full. In the case of chicks or juvenile birds this is usually normal as they will eat quite a bit during this fast growth period. It often happens with full grown chickens as well and is usually normal as long as they all have the same sized bulge. You shouldn't worry unless one chicken has a much larger crop than the rest, or the chicken is acting "funny" indicating distress.

If the crop is "hard" to the touch, the crop could be impacted. This happens when feed is "stuck" in the crop and the chicken can't "swallow" or pass the feed on down to the proventriculous and gizzard.

How it happens:
The crop may occasionally become impacted when feed is withheld prior to worming, causing chickens to eat too much afterwards. Crops may also get packed when birds are free ranged where little is available to eat but tough, fibrous vegetation. Even if the bird continues to eat nutrition cannot get through. The swollen crop may cut off the windpipe, suffocating the bird. Crop impaction is not likely to occur in properly fed birds.

Symptoms:
In mature birds: distended, sour-smelling crop filled with feed and roughage. The crop feels hard when pressed between fingers. Emaciation.

Prevention:
Provide proper rations and plenty of clean, fresh water. If feed is withheld prior to worming, offer a moistened ration 1 hour after worming.

Treatment:
Gail Damerow's "Chicken Health Handbook" lists the treatment as follows:
Disinfect skin, slit through skin with very sharp blade, pull skin aside and slit through crop, clean out crop, isolate bird and keep wound clean until it heals.

I have been raising poultry for over 30 years and could not bring myself to get that drastic. Surgery (which this is) is serious and best left to professionals. We have never had this problem with any of our birds but have found the following treatment in several references and would certainly try it before resorting to surgery which should be done by a veterinarian.

If you suspect impacted crop, administer two eye-droppers full of mineral oil (NOT MINERAL SPIRITS!) by forcing an eye-dropper down the chickens gullet, and massage the hard lump between your fingers to soften it up and help her pass it. Repeat if necessary the following day. If the crop remains hard and the chicken appears distressed, then you may resort to the above treatment or take it to a vet.

 

[robinaggie]

This is the part you should read:
If you suspect impacted crop, administer two eye-droppers full of mineral OIL (NOT MINERAL SPIRITS!) by forcing an eye-dropper down the chickens gullet, and massage the hard lump between your fingers to soften it up and help her pass it. Repeat if necessary the following day. If the crop remains hard and the chicken appears distressed, then you may have to take it to a vet.

 

[robinaggie]

How is your rooster doing today?