Impacted Crop?

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DuckNana207

DuckNana207

Songster
May 26, 2020
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Wisconsin
I have a silkie Rooster (18weeks) that I think has an impacted crop. There is a buldge on his upper right chest area. It feels like it's filled with putty. He doesn't seem to be acting strange, but I did catch him laying down once today, which is unusual. I have tried to syringe feed olive oil, but didn't have alot of luck. We also found our other roo dead yesterday, and his crop seemed filled like a balloon. He also didn't show any symptoms. Our 3 hens are all fine. I'm wondering what could be causing it. We feed chick starter still (crumbles) with see cracked corn mixed in. They also go out in a run (grass/weeds). Their coop is a temporary one until we get our new coop built. They have shaved wood bedding. I am now watching him closer to see how much he is drinking. He is still pecking at the grass... Should I remove food for now? Any other advice would be appreciated!
 
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Do you have granite poultry grit available for your chickens to help the gizzard grind food? Giving chilled coconut oil cut into small pieces to peck is a little safer that giving oil orally, in case of choking. Water is very important in helping to dissolve a crop impaction or a doughy crop. Massage the crop downward after getting them to drink water. You can also learn to tube feed water. I would not let him eat any whole grains until the doughy crop empties. Give cooked egg, plain yogurt, or watery mushy feed. Today you could even stick with just water and electrolytes, and check the crop in early morning to see if it is smaller.
 
Eggcessive said:
Do you have granite poultry grit available for your chickens to help the gizzard grind food? Giving chilled coconut oil cut into small pieces to peck is a little safer that giving oil orally, in case of choking. Water is very important in helping to dissolve a crop impaction or a doughy crop. Massage the crop downward after getting them to drink water. You can also learn to tube feed water. I would not let him eat any whole grains until the doughy crop empties. Give cooked egg, plain yogurt, or watery mushy feed. Today you could even stick with just water and electrolytes, and check the crop in early morning to see if it is smaller.
Click to expand...
I do have a poultry grit available to them. I will try to seclude him from the others and pull his feed for now. I also have electrolytes on hand, so I will offer him those. I will get coconut oil (I was worried about him aspirating the olive oil, so I didn't push it). Thank you for the suggestions! Any idea to what causes this, or why just my roos had trouble?
 
I have seen it a time or two, and it cleared up eventually. It could just be from what the silkie has been eating or getting into outside. I avoid giving bread to chickens, although they love it. It is important to clear it up since a long standing impacted or doughy crop can turn to sour crop when there can be a bacterial or fungal infection that is harder to successfully treat. Here are a couple of articles that may help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/
 
I do think Arthur's is doughy crop. Saturday I treated him with the coconut oil. On Sunday morning I checked, and I was able to get his crop almost empty, except for a "dough like" ball about the size of a quarter (or a little smaller). Yesterday I let him out for a bit (he was drinking water, and very happy- lots of crowing 😊). This morning though, his crop is larger again, and it still has the dough like feel. I want to try treating it with copper sulfate. We have some that is not acidified on the farm for our cattle. Do you know what the difference is between acidified copper sulfate and copper sulfate? And can I put it in the water for all the chickens, or should I separate him again?
 
I would not use plain copper sulfate. It needs to be acidified or it would be dangerous to use. Can you keep him with the others inside a crate where he can see them but keep him on mushy water feed with no whole grains or scratch? Or feed the whole gang a pan of mushy wet feed with a little plain yogurt and keep massaging? His crop probably is not sour yet if you don’t smell a bad odor when pressing on the crop. Here is where you can order acidified copper sulfate and dosage is 1/4 tsp per gallon of water:
https://www.jefferspet.com/products...MI0qfs5PLY8gIVSxitBh1j2AMcEAQYASABEgLLNfD_BwE
 
Eggcessive said:
I would not use plain copper sulfate. It needs to be acidified or it would be dangerous to use. Can you keep him with the others inside a crate where he can see them but keep him on mushy water feed with no whole grains or scratch? Or feed the whole gang a pan of mushy wet feed with a little plain yogurt and keep massaging? His crop probably is not sour yet if you don’t smell a bad odor when pressing on the crop. Here is where you can order acidified copper sulfate and dosage is 1/4 tsp per gallon of water:
https://www.jefferspet.com/products...MI0qfs5PLY8gIVSxitBh1j2AMcEAQYASABEgLLNfD_BwE
Click to expand...
I have him in a crate, and that is in the run with the others. I will order some acidified Copper sulfate today, and hope it ships quick! Should I continue to help empty it with the coconut oil?
 

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