Impacted crop

[FirstTimeChikens]

I think I'm a terrible chicken caregiver because I totally let this go on for weeks without knowing. One of my girls has an impacted crop, but I didn't know it was until a few days ago. I do check their crops but it wasn't completely hard so I didn't think anything of it, but about 4 days ago I found that, because it wasn't emptying, I would do something about it. It's definitely sour now too. 4 days into her treatment, nothing has changed. I haven't been giving her any chicken food. She gets massaged in the morning and put in a dog crate in the coop for the day, then I come at evening and give her olive oil, massage her, and feed her a mushy scrambled egg. I don't know ehat else to do. I will be home all day Saturday, so maybe I'm just not massaging it enough and should do it all day. Any tips+tricks? I need at home remedies, we don't have access to a chicken surgeon/any special chicken foods.

 

[Eggcessive]

Impacted crops are very hard to treat, especially if it has become sour. I have lost several older hens who had other issues, such as reproductive disorders. Worms, cancer, water belly, or any other issue that increases pressure inside the abdomen, can lead to this. I had a couple last 2 months, and I could never solve the crop problem. They eventually lose weight and starve.

What do you feed your chickens? Do you have grit available separate from food? Have you tried worming her with Valbazen or SafeGuard? Is she eating and drinking? Some mushy very wet chicken feed can also be given with the egg. Electrolytes and vitamins or some Poultry Cell or NutriDrench 2 ml daily would be helpful.

Since it is now sour, using an antifungal (miconazole/Monistat, Medistatin, Nystatin, Fluconazole) could be helpful. Chilled coconut oil cut into small slivers for her to peck at up to 2 tsp per day can be a safer way to give oil. Olive or mineral oil can be given in food as well. Some use acidified copper sulfate 1/4 tsp per gallon of water in serious cases if nothing else works. Get it from McMurray hatchery or Jedds on line. Please read this good article about crop treatments if you haven’t:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

Impacted crops are very hard to treat, especially if it has become sour. I have lost several older hens who had other issues, such as reproductive disorders. Worms, cancer, water belly, or any other issue that increases pressure inside the abdomen, can lead to this. I had a couple last 2 months, and I could never solve the crop problem. They eventually lose weight and starve.

What do you feed your chickens? Do you have grit available separate from food? Have you tried worming her with Valbazen or SafeGuard? Is she eating and drinking? Some mushy very wet chicken feed can also be given with the egg. Electrolytes and vitamins or some Poultry Cell or NutriDrench 2 ml daily would be helpful.

I give them purina organic chicken crumbles. They are about 12 weeks so they are on a starter/grower. I do have grit for them. I haven't tried worming her. She is eating, and drinking. I'll try electrolytes. I have probiotics I can give too but I think she may need the opposite . I'm giving her plain water with some vinegar in it because I heard chickens like slightly acidic water. I'm hoping I don't lose her. I didn't know they were hard to treat. I will look into all of the other products/links you've given me..I really appreciate this and I'm sorry for your loss.