Impacted crop still

[dickkenschickens]

I posted this problem yesterday and I got some great info from LynneP but I'm still not sure if I have the right diagnosis.

I live in the city and have only 6 chickens. I've had them since June and up to this point haven't had any problems. A few days ago I noticed one of my rir was off by herself, standing or sitting in the corner of their fenced in yard. Yesyerday she didn't seem to be interested in the scratch I put down so I picked her up and noticed that her chest was very big and soft almost like a fat belly. I now notice it even from a distance that it sags sways back and forth as she walks. I noticed too, that her comb seems to be flopping over a little bit.

She doesn't seem to lethargic and is free ranging w/ the others this morning. I've massaged her chest a couple of time this morning. I worked it pretty good and can't feel anything in there. It just feels soft and fat. I got a little olive oil in her and the is a little apple cider vineger in all the water. Would red wine vineger work better? I have some of that on hand as well and a few people mentionede that red wine sometimes works on an impacted crop.

If I hadn't seen her off by herself those few times I may not have noticed anything. Maybe she just a fat hen, but the chest on the others doesn't feel anything like hers and she seems to like having it massaged.

I don't know of anyone in my area to talk to or take her to and I'm just not equipped to do surgery. Any insight or info or reccomended procedure would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all very much,

Dick's Chicks

 

[LynneP]

Stay with the apple cider vinegar and add diced tomato to your regiment if she will eat it. Otherwise, try a dropper with some tomato juice and drizzle over the front of her beak (avoid the nares) and get at least 5 ml in her. The acid in the tomato and the vinegar helps to break down fibres. Is the crop getting a little smaller? If she is cooperating keep massaging, lifting the brop by cupping with your hand to let fluids down under the mass to get to her gut. This is needed to keep her energy up. You seem to be doing well- it can take a few days...most crop problems do not require surgery and besides, most of us are not going there...

I'm sorry to be slow getting back to you- storm here and my email and dialup are sloww and I'm getting dropoffs...

As an aside, this hen will become very fond of you, they are appreciative when you 'fix' them...