impacted crop

[painthorse]

Ihave lost 4 hens in the last 6 months .They just stand around with their eyes closed. The last hen I cut her craw open to find it full of pine shaving and grass so I clean all the nest out and put straw in them hoping that would fix the problem now I have another hen doing the same thing.They are production red hens about 1 1/2 yrs old good health, free range, locked up at nite , let out during day. I bought the hens from a man that had them locked up but that was 7 months ago so the grass should not be the problem or?Any ideas?

 

[Godiva]

I am not sure about the cause of this either. I have a hen right now that has done the same thing twice. First time round it was with straw and this time it was with pine shavings! Doesn't look like she is going to make it this time though. I wonder if they are lacking something in their diet or if they are not able to get to the feed when the others chase them away and then they eat the bedding? I have only had two hens do this in all the time I have had chickens (about 4 years now) .... Good luck figuring this out! I do know that long grass is not good in their craw as it balls up and doesn't pass through. If your birds got a late start on free ranging they may not 'know' that the shorter grass is the stuff to go for.