I need help with a digestive problem (Happy Update-post#20)

[kathyinmo]

Normal chicken food. (Such as normal chicken layer food, watermelon, whatever; normal stuff for chickens).

Sorry to barge in here, but, may I ask a question or two? I am sure it is totally unrelated. In your original post you said she is eating, " chicken layer food." Is your chicken on Layer crumbles, or Grower crumbles? Is she laying eggs yet?

If I understand correctly, "normally," the crop is emptied at night; so it "should" be larger before bedtime, and not so large in the AM.
I could be way off here, but was just thinking ..... hhmmm Oh, never mind, you said it has been growing and is baseball size (on a 4 month old Silkie) Wheeeww.... must be HUGE.

Sending well wishes your way.​

 

[fordmommy]

*1-She is on layer crumbles. The guy I got her from said that is what I was to buy for them. Said that they should be laying by the end of this month.

*2-The crop is that big morning, noon, and night and was getting bigger every day.

*3-And she's not a silkie. I'm not sure where you though I said that???

This is her when I first got her. Don't know what she is. Just imagine a huge bump in front. It made her look top heavy.

And thank you for the well wishes.

 

[kathyinmo]

OOps, thought I read Silkie. Sorry about that! Anyway, on any chicken, baseball size is extreme, isn't it? Hope she is doing better. Oh, and what a pretty bird she is for sure!

See, I am new to all this, and am soaking up all I read. I thought (probably wrong) they couldn't have "Layer food," until they begin laying. Not that that has anything at all to do with her crop problem, I was just thinking ...

You will get great advice and help here! Sorry I am of no assistance. I am still in the learning category.

Hope you have eggs soon! Well wishes for your pretty bird.
Kathy

edited to add: I am not sure, but I think she might be an Easter Egger.

 

[threehorses]

Good point Kathy - I hadn't seen that. She really should probably be on grower until her comb fills in and starts to redden. That's when I start mixing in the layer. She still looks a little bodily immature to lay quite yet - has the body of a pullet.

That might help.

Also I'd hold back even the grit for a few days - just lots of the (right) crumbles. She has some grit, but she won't be needing it for a little bit - it's not going anywhere.

She's very cute btw!

 

[fordmommy]

Okay. I'll change their food to grower and no grit. And the ACV water. Anything else?

 

[threehorses]

No that sounds about right; how's she doing today?

 

[fordmommy]

She seems happy. But the crop is still engorged, I guess you'd call it. Will that go away? It seems that the muscles are all stretched from being so big. When I feel it, there doesn't seem to be tons of fluid in it. But it's not like the other's.

I bought the grower and gave that to them and I did their water up with the ACV (which was over $5.00 a bottle at the health food store in town) I bought two.

I hope that she'll get better soon. I try to be a patient person, but I'm not. I hate the wait and see game.

When should I see significant inprovment by? Next week maybe?

 

[threehorses]

Sometimes when a crop is unnaturally distended, the chicken can develop a condition called "pendulous crop". Usually that happens at the lower portions of the crop - it sags and the lower portion doesn't empty as well. And yes the muscles and the crop itself must shrink.

That's another reason for offering food continuously and making sure she never runs out: when they binge, that keeps the crop from being able to return more to a normal shape.

Good on the crumbles and the acv. Are you currently offering yogurt daily?

You should be seeing a good improvement by the end of the week. She might keep fluids and mushy food in there, but from the day. There should be very little content in the crop first thing in the morning before feeding. That's the time to check.

 

[fordmommy]

I am giving yogart. They love it, even plain. I don't get to check her crop first thing in the morning since we are late sleepers. I check it about 9-9:30 and then it's already bigger.

But since I emptied her crop, it has not gotten as big.

I think I will set the alarm tomorrow and see how it feels first thing in the morning.

Thanks again Threehorses. I don't know what I'd do without you. You are wonderful!

 

[fordmommy]

My "Honey" is doing very well. Her crop is almost back to normal. The ACV did wonders along with the yogart. With each day her crop doesn't get as big. It is still a little stretched out. Not much though.

She's going to live!

I do have a question. When do you think I can start giving treats again? I don't want to rush things. I was thinking maybe Monday. Does that sound alright? I don't want to be back at the beginning.