Impacted crop??? Help please...

[Shannon's Chix]

I think my hen has an impacted crop, it is fairly large and hard. I searched the message boards and I saw something about the crop could be full after eating...it's evening and she just free ranged for awhile and had almost a half piece of bread. But it's HARD.

She's outside now acting just fine but I don't want to wait until she's having a major problem...I think I know what to do but should I act now or wait?

 

[emilyweck]

Has she vomited? Have you seen her poop recently?

 

[mrbstephens]

Wait till the morning. She probably just ate a lot while free ranging and is full. If the crop is still the same in the morning you can feed her some bread soaked with olive oil.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

I don't think she vomited, she's still eating! I did notice black runny droppings I've never seen before...maybe I should isolate her?

 

[mrbstephens]

The black runny poop is probably because she ate a lot of green grass and leaves. If she's acting fine then leave her alone. Just check on her tomorrow. I'm sure she's fine.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

I'll watch her close then...thanks!

 

[threehorses]

I agree with checking her first thing in the morning - before they eat. (Remove the feed tonight if you have to.)

If it makes you feel better, my hens will eat so much that their crop is rock hard - you can feel the grains and pellets inside of it like a sorely-overstuffed bean bag. Birds will sometimes tend to binge if they don't have food for a while. But mine binge because they'll run our four acres all day and then come back and eat a lot. Their crops always empty, and I hope yours does, too.

Will you please come back and update *this* post and let us know, either way? You'll have at least one subscriber waiting for updates. Thanks!

 

[mrbstephens]

How is she today???

 

[hoosiersphynx]

Sorry question dose it have to be olive oil? If so why?
Thanks

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Vegetable oil will work in a pinch. It's a lubricant. Olive oil has a better texture however.