Impacted Crop?

[Taylermartin]

Last week I had a chicken pass away due to impacted crop that burst.
I'm not sure if I a paranoid now but I was looking at my Orpington and she is looking large in the chest. I felt her crop which is full and it doesn't have much give when I push on it. I felt the other chickens and theirs are full too but not as big as hers. I am wondering if I should do home remedies first or if I should take her straight to the vet? Should I wait until morning to see if it empties? When I was holding her she opened her mouth and I did not smell anything sour or smelly. What would it smell like if it were sour crop? Her personality hasn't changed and she is still running around eating and drinking.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Check her crop first thing in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink, it should be empty. If it's not then let us know. This article will be helpful to you as well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

It's not uncommon for a hen's crop to look and feel full when she goes to roost or to even look and feel full during the day when she's been eating/drinking. The truest way to gauge function is to feel of it after she's had a full night's sleep.

 

[Taylermartin]

Check her crop first thing in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink, it should be empty. If it's not then let us know. This article will be helpful to you as well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

It's not uncommon for a hen's crop to look and feel full when she goes to roost or to even look and feel full during the day when she's been eating/drinking. The truest way to gauge function is to feel of it after she's had a full night's sleep.

I checked her this morning, I am a little shocked that it felt completely empty.
She is one of my smaller girls and she had the fullest crop (size of a large egg) when I check before going to bed.
Is checking their crops each night mandatory?
I want to be safe, my last week was pretty traumatic.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I checked her this morning, I am a little shocked that it felt completely empty.
She is one of my smaller girls and she had the fullest crop (size of a large egg) when I check before going to bed.
Is checking their crops each night mandatory?
I want to be safe, my last week was pretty traumatic.

It's a good habit to check crops in the morning to make sure they are emptying overnight.
I usually do it about once a week, but I do try to take note of each bird daily (how they are acting, watch them eat/drink, move around, etc.) to try to keep on top of things. I've found that each bird has their own little ways or quirks, so the more you make a mental note of how each one "acts" the better you have the potential to spot a problem arising. They are very good at hiding ailments, so if you do miss something don't beat yourself up.