Impacted Crop! Please help!

[yellowflower]

I know this has been discussed and I have gone through the archives but I still have questions. I just noticed yesterday, well the day before but it was later in the day so I just thought she ate alot. Her crop is sticking out so far and I checked and it isn't going down, it's a hard ball. I think she ate too much sunflower seeds and corn as I have gone overboard on treats.

So I gave her some olive oil yesterday, but geez, I think I got more on me than down her throat! How in the world do you do it? Then I massaged, but I don't know if I'm doing it right. Do I start at the bottom and work my way up or do I start at the top and work my way down. I just did it all different ways to try to loosen it up. Well, she still has it so I'm going to massage some more. Just want to do it correctly. Also I gave her some bread soaked in olive oil last night as I don't think I got much into her.

I saw her drinking alot of water this morning, is that a good thing?

She's one of my favorite cochins, my white Starlight. Please help!

Thanks!

 

[chickensioux]

It sounds like you are doing just fine. It doesn't take much oil to lubricate the crop. I would not feed her anything until you know she's passing the contents of the crop. Keep her confined so she doesn't eat when you are not looking. Keep massaging the crop. I don't think there is any special way to do it just as long as you do it and I would do it several times a day. Let her drink water, that can help too. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Intheswamp]

I haven't ever done this and I may be completely wrong but it seems that I recall that folks will hold the chicken with it's head down (don't do this for extended periods of time) and massage the crop towards the mouth...the idea is actually to get the chicken to regurgitate the stuff in it's crop back out. I don't think it can be massaged "down" per se, as it has to go into the gizzard and be ground up before it can travel on through the chicken. It also seems that some folks used wine with some success.

Best wishes with your sick bird,
Ed

 

[Intheswamp]

Here's a lengthy thread regarding massaging and using wine.

Impacted Crop

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[chickensioux]

Try the wine thing but if she has not passed any of the contents within a 24-48 hr. span, you may need vet intervention. Don't wait too long. But trying these things to clear the crop works alot of the time.

 

[yellowflower]

Thankyou everyone! I just went out and massaged it and it seems smaller and there are some some spots, there was also some gurgling sounds? Just a little. There is still a hard ball but I can move it around and it feels like it is breaking up. I also gave her some bread soaked in olive oil. Just a little as I don't want her eating much. She loves bread! I am going to see how I can seperate her. I don't have a crate to use like I usually do as I have chicks I justed hatched and I use the bottom of it for a brooder. So I guess I'll see if I can make a spot for her in the coop.
I will read that link and see if I can do anything else for her and continue to massage. I don't think it's a sour crop as there is no smell whatsoever and she coos when I massage her.

Thanks again and I will keep you updated!

 

[chickensioux]

Just a note....don't kill her with kindness. I know she probably loves bread, but for now I would hold off until her crop has emptied. Good luck.

 

[yellowflower]

I was giving the bread soaked in olive oil because I read it on here somewhere's. I figured it was the better way to get the olive oil in as I was having a terrible time doing it with a dropper. Does anyone have a trick to it? I'm so afraid I will shoot it into her lungs. And I get more on me than into her.
I just massaged her, it's no bigger and it feels like some of it is moldable (sp) now. I worked on the really hard part and it does feel like seed. Sometimes it sounds like air coming up when I do it.
Going to give her some more oil. Try to anyhow.

 

[Chickengal505]

Dont want to sound enexpereanced here but would someone explan what a crop is?

 

[chickeepoo]

It's that first "storage bag" that food goes to when the bird eats. See diagram at http://www.poultryhelp.com/impactedcrop.html

My husband finally had to operate on a hen that had a grossly impacted crop- it's been a month and she's eating and laying again. She did get what I was afraid was crop impaction again the other evening and I headed it off at he pass with (2) 2.5cc syringes of half water/half olive oil, with a pinch of baking soda in case something went sour, delivered right down her throat (you have to be careful not to get it in the hole to their airway, but I've never had a problem there yet). Then I massaged what felt like food and sunflower seeds and scratch- feels like a tough "squishy" ball, but breaks up some. She was clear in the morning, so I may have been panicky as I do not want to go through the surgery thing again any more than the hen does, but this does work if she isn't blocked with too much impassable material. Watch for comb flopping over if that's not normal for the breed and discoloration in the comb; that's how I knew we were running out of time and would have to take other action.