I guess impacted crop? update -hen ate flaked paint see bottom

[Azulegg]

My silkie hen has a swelling on the front of her chest. It is very warm, soft, and feels gritty. It stays there all the time. Usually these "swellings" appear after they have spent the day eating and are not there in the morning when they come out. Hers is there ALL the time now. What is it and what do I need to be doing about it?

 

[LynneP]

I had a hen like that two weeks ago. Generally the following will help, and it certainly cleared her-

diced tomato

olive oil

apple cider vinegar in the drinking water

*tiny* bits of bread soaked in oil if she is eating

Has anything changed recently- feed/grit/treats

Do you suspect she may have gotten something in the coop/run/yard?

I hope some silkie owners will come in, because the breed is more of a challenge than my layer mutts!

 

[Azulegg]

Quote:
Oh thanks so much for the advice. No nothing has changed in the diet. BTW, she is still eating and loves bread as treats! And the poops are normal, no diarrhea.

 

[Azulegg]

Oh I forgot, I meant to tell you Lynn that my silkie hen got out a few weeks ago. She was out for a few hours I guess, and for some reason she was eating the flaking paint off of the bottom board of the barn!!!! Do you think this could have caused this?

 

[LynneP]

I think it sounds more like big pieces of stone or grit...will she take bread soaked in oil- not too much, but it might 'snag' the mass and start to bring it through...

 

[Azulegg]

Ok. Thanks. BTW her pen flooring is stone dust so she has access to lots of very small pieces of stone.

 

[LynneP]

Some hens are very fond of certain kinds small stones and get into trouble with them, especially if they are limestone based. Do you know the type of stone or the pH of it? You may want to consider amending that floor, even to the point of topping with self-levelling concrete or planking it...

 

[cyanne]

Quote:
Are you sure you are not just feeling her crop? That is an organ to the right side of their chest that is kind of like a sack where food collects and stays for a while at the beginning of their digestive process. It is perfectly normal for them to get quite large, expecially if they have been pigging out on food and treats during the day.

The only time it would be a problem is if it becomes impacted so that the food does not pass out, or if they get a condition called 'sour crop.'

If she is behaving normally otherwise, she is probably just fine.