Impacted crops or something else?

[JacinLarkwell]

If you have a dropper, you can put some olive oil down their throat. Make sure you go down the right side of the chicken's mouth (the chicken's right side). The center leads to the lungs. Not so good.
There is info on tube feeding with pictures if you are unfamiliar.

Since they are young, make sure there are multiple places for them to access food. I have seen hens, generally on the lower end of the pecking order, make it their mission to bully youngsters and will prevent them eating and drinking.

There are threads about ways to keep water from freezing. We don't get snow here, so I don't know much about it.

Consider bringing them in at night. They mask illnesses so well, they are usually pretty far gone by the time we notice.

I have no power for their bowls, so no way to keep water from freezing in -10 weather.

The first one has been in my basement for a fewdays, and I'm bringing the Other one in tonight if I notice her acting odd again. She seemed like she was feelibg better when I checked on her about an hour ago

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I also do have a few different food stations for them, but i really dont see any bullying and I'm down there to keep an eye on eating when I go down to do chores. They really don't seem to have pecking order issues.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

If she's thin, I'd bring her in. Easier to monitor what they are eating and what might be wrong. Easier to fatten them up!

-10 sounds a bit nippy.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If she's thin, I'd bring her in. Easier to monitor what they are eating and what might be wrong. Easier to fatten them up!

-10 sounds a bit nippy.

Yeah, and -10 Is during the day too right now

 

[Wishing4Wings]

My kid's going to college in Bozeman. I've never been in temps that cold.
My chickens are weather wimps.
(So am I)

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My kid's going to college in Bozeman. I've never been in temps that cold.
My chickens are weather wimps.
(So am I)

I think Bozeman is still warmer

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I think so.
If it's any consolation, this cold weather has made it all the way down to Texas. Hope it warms up for you soon.

 

[aart]

I have the first gal in a carrier though so I'll see if she poops and doesn't step in it to see if there's anything odd about it

Might want to set up some wire crates.
I use coconut oil for crop impaction, melt it into some crumble.

I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

Note wire mesh on bottom of crate and tray underneath crate.
Makes it really easy to observe poops, and clean up after them.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Might want to set up some wire crates.
I use coconut oil for crop impaction, melt it into some crumble.

I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

Note wire mesh on bottom of crate and tray underneath crate.
Makes it really easy to observe poops, and clean up after them.
View attachment 2523639

Okay, I'll look and see if anyone's getting rid of a crate nearby. I'm afraid of putting her back outside now though since the wether gotten so bad while she's been inside

 

[aart]

I'm afraid of putting her back outside now though since the wether gotten so bad while she's been inside

That can be a toughy.
How warm is it in the basement?
Anywhere to put her that's in between the inside and outside temps?