Impacted Crop, help!

[Heidi Plume]

My favorite girl has an impacted crop (not certain). I'm not sure what is going on. She has a big, hard bump on her neck where the skin is a crusty black. I also just noticed that she has a messy bottom. I've separated her, given her water, ACV and have massaged the bump. There is a lot of information out there and I'm wondering what this actually is and what I can do for her.

 

[frostic]

Can you upload a picture of what you mean by the skin seems crusty and black? a photo may help others to help you identify the issue thankyou.

 

[Heidi Plume]

Can you upload a picture of what you mean by the skin seems crusty and black? a photo may help others to help you identify the issue thankyou.

 

[Heidi Plume]

Here are some pics. One shows the crusty black skin on the bump. With the others i tried to show the bump.

 

[Heidi Plume]

Can you upload a picture of what you mean by the skin seems crusty and black? a photo may help others to help you identify the issue thankyou.

I posted pics.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My favorite girl has an impacted crop (not certain). I'm not sure what is going on. She has a big, hard bump on her neck where the skin is a crusty black. I also just noticed that she has a messy bottom. I've separated her, given her water, ACV and have massaged the bump. There is a lot of information out there and I'm wondering what this actually is and what I can do for her.

I'm sorry, but I can't tell much from the photos - can you post some that are clearer?

Have you checked her well for lice and mites?

You mention that she may have an impacted crop - feel the crop at night, then first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks. It should be full at night/empty in the morning. Here's a good article to help you with crop function
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

As for crusty/black skin - without a photo it's hard to know - could be scabbing from injury, skin infection or symptoms of disease.

Messy bottoms can happen, but since your are seeing other things that concern you, getting a fecal float is a good idea.

Hopefully with photos and more info, we can give you better suggestions. Let us know how she is.

 

[cindagram]

I’m having similar issues, did you ever resolve this? If so, how?
My girl is lethargic and won’t eat. Her feathers are all puffed out. She has a big hard lump at the bottom of her neck towards her chest.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m having similar issues, did you ever resolve this? If so, how?
My girl is lethargic and won’t eat. Her feathers are all puffed out. She has a big hard lump at the bottom of her neck towards her chest.

Do you have photos of her and her poop?
How old is she?
A hard crop sounds like it is impacted.
The lethargy is concerning - if she is of laying age, when was her last egg? Any bloat/swelling or fluid in the abdomen?
Is she pooping?

If the crop is hard, don't worry about food right at them moment, but she does need to stay hydrated, make water available. I would start out with offering 1 teaspoon of coconut oil (refrigerate so it's "solid", break into little chunks, then she if she will eat it on her own). Gently massage/knead the crop to see if you can start getting whatever is in there broken up.

Crop issues can often be a symptom as something else - worms, coccidiosis, reproductive problems and infection are some common underlying conditions that affect the function of the crop/digestion.

Here's a good article to read - report back to us with your findings
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[cindagram]

The pictures of her chest are where she has been pecked since I got her. It’s like a long strip of hard bone and I can touch my fingers together underneath it. Maybe this is normal? She has not started laying yet and I think she is around six months old. The other issue is this wound on her. The black is crumbly so I think it is dried blood?
So far her poop is just really runny. She ate some coconut oil and a few scratch seeds.

 

[cindagram]

Not sure if the pics posted...