Large Crop - Hen overate

[BLaBauve]

This morning I noticed my run with my 4 girls didn't have much food. When I went to refill their feed I noticed I was out of grower(my girls are 5 months/not laying). I did however, have a fresh bag of layer feed. I filled up their feeder with the layer feed and gave them a handful of scratch.

This afternoon I noticed my oldest pullet (almost 6 months) had a very large crop. It's so large it's making her chest stick out. When I massage it I can feel all the feed/scratch in it.

Now what? Wait until tomorrow and hope it's smaller? Do I take up the feed? I'm worried if I take up the feed, she'll gorge again tomorrow. Should I try bread with olive oil on it?

Thanks!

 

[Chickenaddict]

Chickens crops are suppose to be full when they go to roost at night. I'd just monitor her over night and see if the crop is still full in the morning. In the meantime you should offer grit to break up the scratch grains and feed. If in the morning her crop is still full you can try olive oil soaked bread and gently massage the crop.

 

[BLaBauve]

Ok, thank you. I've never seen it this big. . . I guess it was just alarming.

 

[BLaBauve]

So this morning her crop is still just as full as yesterday. Can it take several days for it to break up?

 

[LynneP]

Yes it can take a while- here are some thoughts to help you


For now, I'd be sure she gets a little oil by dropper to lubricate the mass.
I now keep wild bird suet in my coop for this purpose.
Your pullet is at an age of rapid growth and probably couldn't believe her good fortune at having so much to eat!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-sick-hen



Is she drinking?

1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar per litre of water may speed things too, and it will help keep the mass from becoming sour as she digests it. Oink, they can be so silly!