Impacted Crop Update- (was: Molting or something else going on?)

[Firefly]

Good news-- this morning she was up and active, tried to charge for the door to go out with the other girls when I let her out of her crate. When I stopped her, she decided to go for her food instead! (Which I also prevented). The fact that she's active and hungry I am taking as a good sign. We got a LOT of stuff out of her yesterday. The crop is now down and back to normal, but it sags a little-- it probably always will now since it stretched out so much! But at least she's comfortable.

Now, I am concerned about whether or not we got everything out that might have been impacting her. Is there a way to be sure? The only thing I'm feeding her right now is yogurt and oil-soaked bread, but when is it safe to start on the regular food again?

Thanks again!!

Kelli

 

[MissPrissy]

You can give her some feed maybe soften it in water or the yogurt. I am not an expert on sick chickens because I have very rarely had one. I think you have done a real good job nursing her through this.

 

[redwa]

Firefly - I would not give her any bread because if it is sour crop, the yeast in the bread would not be a good thing for a static crop. I would give her yogurt (plain) in the morning then small quantities of her regular feed mixed with water and watch that she passes that before giving her more food (small quantities). Do not let her over eat or eat anything other than her regular food. He crop is distended and needs to get its function back before regular feeding which means small regular meals once she has successfully passed what she has ingested.

 

[Firefly]

Thanks, Redwa & MissPrissy! I am happy to say that the last two mornings (after feeling an egg-sized crop "bulge" before bed time from the small amounts I'm giving her) her crop has been nearly flat-- almost completely back to normal!

Now, I plan to keep a close eye on her for several more days before I start letting her eat normally and interacting with the rest of the girls. My only concern at this point is that she doesn't seem to be drinking much water. She has one of those rabbit waterers (similar to this) but I'm not sure if she's using it. Several times a day I let her out either in the coop or run for 15 minutes or so, and she doesn't go anywhere near the water. She does try to get to her grit and feed, but not the water. Should I try to eyedropper some water into her for the time being?

Thanks again for all the help. I was beginning to think that euthanizing her was going to be my only option, but now I think she might actually make it through this!