Hi all, I'm pretty new to BYC and to chickens, and my favorite chick (Captain Ahab) is having a problem that I suspect is impacted crop. Capt. Ahab's a 2-month-old Ameraucana and for the past day or two she has been increasingly lethargic, droopy head and tail, keeping to her roost, not running to me like the others when I come to the coop. If I bring her out into the yard, she will join the others in pecking around, but not for long. I have seen her eat and drink a little. After reading about crop problems tonight, I felt her chest area and it seemed like there was a hard little bump there that the other girls didn't have. Then I read how feeding them grass can cause crop problems, which I've been doing recently, so that's made me think it's even more likely impacted crop. She hasn't had granite grit, but she and the other pullets spend the day in a dirt yard, so I've figured they were getting lots of pebbles that way. I'm worried about doing more harm than good at this point, since there's a few things I'm still not sure about:
- could anyone give me more guidance on how to tell if I'm actually feeling her crop? or point me to a picture online of where to feel for her crop?
- How long should I give her to see if her crop improves on its own? It's been about a day and a half that she's been acting droopy. So she's obviously not feeling good, but she doesn't seem in as dire straits as some other chickens I've been reading about tonight. So are there any simple ways I can help her without getting into tubation or worrying about surgery?
- I'm a little worried about trying to put droppers or tubes down her throat, since when I peeked in her beak I couldn't honestly tell what was what. So again, does anyone have pictures or further guidance on how to make sure I don't flood her lungs accidentally?
- Are there any other telltale symptoms of impacted crop I should look for? Or other ailments that might be causing these same symptoms?
Thanks so much for any advice y'all can give. I really hope I can help this little one before it's too late.
- could anyone give me more guidance on how to tell if I'm actually feeling her crop? or point me to a picture online of where to feel for her crop?
- How long should I give her to see if her crop improves on its own? It's been about a day and a half that she's been acting droopy. So she's obviously not feeling good, but she doesn't seem in as dire straits as some other chickens I've been reading about tonight. So are there any simple ways I can help her without getting into tubation or worrying about surgery?
- I'm a little worried about trying to put droppers or tubes down her throat, since when I peeked in her beak I couldn't honestly tell what was what. So again, does anyone have pictures or further guidance on how to make sure I don't flood her lungs accidentally?
- Are there any other telltale symptoms of impacted crop I should look for? Or other ailments that might be causing these same symptoms?
Thanks so much for any advice y'all can give. I really hope I can help this little one before it's too late.