Is this impacted crop? What to do?

[JakRat]

My chickens crop is not hard, but big and full of water... all she seems to want to do is to drink, and ate a bit yesterday... she has also lost alot of feathers and the other girls were picking on her and trying to fight her or something. Now she is inside and in her own little cage. Her droppings are all water. Any ideas? I have just given her water with vitamins and electrolytes to see if that helps. Any other suggestions?

 

[1muttsfan]

ondra, so sorry to hear that. Birds are often very sick before they show any signs of illness.

Jakrat if is she eating at all I have had birds like that respond to a vegetable baby food/yogurt mix. If the crop is full of sour liquid I have also held the bird upside down and gently massaged the crop to drain the fluid out the mouth. You have to be very careful that the bird does not inhale this fluid, as that would lead to aspiration pneumonia and death. Then feed her the mix, or tube her with some mixed with warm water is she is not eating.

 

[JakRat]

Quote:
How do you know if it is full of sour liquid?? How do you make sure that she doesnt inhale?

 

[flowergirl60]

I'm so sorry she died.

 

[JakRat]

Ok so this was my first go around with a sick chicken so I just held her and rubbed her crop, then walah! she started to well I guess vomit but it was more like I had turned the faucet on. I didnt have to hold her upside down, her crop just emptied itself. Now when I felt around in there after all the water was out I still felt the seeds I gave her the other day. I am worried that those might be blocking her crop because it was 2 days ago. I have never had any problems with giving them safflower seeds before... Do you know of anything that might make these easier to digest?

 

[1muttsfan]

I don't think there is much you can do other than try to support her nutritionally. Sounds like her crop is not emptying normally, because these seeds should pass into her gizzard. Give her only liquid foods for now, and keep her separate so she does not get beat up.