Lost her "voice" and does this look weird

[Rockergirl]

I'm totally new to chickens, started raising the babies in June. they are about 24 weeks and one of them is an ISA Brown, sweetest coolest bird ever. She is very talkative, you can hear her as soon as I open the door from my house. This evening I went outside and I couldn't hear her....walked into the run and her mouth was opening and I could hear what sounded like a really quiet whistle almost, like she was trying to get her words out but very little would come out. She is eating and drinking like normal, pretty much acting like normal except that she is usually a little more excited to see me (still excited and follows me around). Does anyone know what could have caused this. It sounds like what it sounds like when we talk too much and lose our voice. Also, it seems like one side of her chest may be a little swollen? I could tell if it was feathers but something seems off. It's not in the center, it's to the left when I'm facing her (but her right side). Attached are two pics. Does this look off and if so, any idea what it could be and could it be related to her voice? It was hard to get a straight shot because she always want to move sideways....but it seems like the one side is flatter than the other.

 

[CKfarm22]

I'm totally new to chickens, started raising the babies in June. they are about 24 weeks and one of them is an ISA Brown, sweetest coolest bird ever. She is very talkative, you can hear her as soon as I open the door from my house. This evening I went outside and I couldn't hear her....walked into the run and her mouth was opening and I could hear what sounded like a really quiet whistle almost, like she was trying to get her words out but very little would come out. She is eating and drinking like normal, pretty much acting like normal except that she is usually a little more excited to see me (still excited and follows me around). Does anyone know what could have caused this. It sounds like what it sounds like when we talk too much and lose our voice. Also, it seems like one side of her chest may be a little swollen? I could tell if it was feathers but something seems off. It's not in the center, it's to the left when I'm facing her (but her right side). Attached are two pics. Does this look off and if so, any idea what it could be and could it be related to her voice? It was hard to get a straight shot because she always want to move sideways....but it seems like the one side is flatter than the other.

Is her crop hard? soft? The area that looks “swollen” is her crop, that’s where they store their food . Has she had any long grass lately?

 

[Rockergirl]

Is her crop hard? soft? The area that looks “swollen” is her crop, that’s where they store their food . Has she had any long grass lately?

Looking at some pictures online, that's what it looks like, swollen crop. They are in bed now, it's dark, so I'm not sure if it's hard or soft. I did kind of touch it earlier but just felt like soft feathers and I was worried I was hurting her, she wanted to jump down, so I stopped. I did give them whole organic corn kernels this week because I read it will help keep them warm since we are having a cold spell (in NC). I wonder if the corn got stuck in there? I read that I have to separate her from the others? is that true? I really hate to stress her out....she's still basically a baby (24 weeks), just started laying about 2 weeks ago. Does it make a difference if it's soft or hard? I read give her olive oil a few times a day and rub it? Not sure how long to rub it each time? Any tips/help?

 

[CKfarm22]

Looking at some pictures online, that's what it looks like, swollen crop. They are in bed now, it's dark, so I'm not sure if it's hard or soft. I did kind of touch it earlier but just felt like soft feathers and I was worried I was hurting her, she wanted to jump down, so I stopped. I did give them whole organic corn kernels this week because I read it will help keep them warm since we are having a cold spell (in NC). I wonder if the corn got stuck in there? I read that I have to separate her from the others? is that true? I really hate to stress her out....she's still basically a baby (24 weeks), just started laying about 2 weeks ago. Does it make a difference if it's soft or hard? I read give her olive oil a few times a day and rub it? Not sure how long to rub it each time? Any tips/help?

That corn thing is a myth, it doesn’t keep them warm. If it’s hard, and not squishy, it’s impacted most likely. Separate from others to reduce stress. Isolate from food. Dose with 10ml olive oil or vegetable oil, trickle slowly into the side of her beak. Wait 10 mins then massage the crop. Repeat twice more every couple hours. Monitor her droppings, quantity and texture. If the crop still hasn’t gone down in the next 24 hours, she should see a vet.

 

[Rockergirl]

That corn thing is a myth, it doesn’t keep them warm. If it’s hard, and not squishy, it’s impacted most likely. Separate from others to reduce stress. Isolate from food. Dose with 10ml olive oil or vegetable oil, trickle slowly into the side of her beak. Wait 10 mins then massage the crop. Repeat twice more every couple hours. Monitor her droppings, quantity and texture. If the crop still hasn’t gone down in the next 24 hours, she should see a vet.

This morning we went to separate her and let her get comfortable before I give her the olive oil. She did lay an egg, which I was really surprised and as we went to separate her she pooped these huge massive poops - looked almost like big clump of saw dust. Then she had another big poop while she was separated. This was all before I did any oil or massaging. Now it look like the swelling is down/gone.....Does that mean it self healed? Should I still do the oil and massage? She still doesn't have her loud chitter chatter but she is very perky and happy (I let her back out since she was so stressed being locked up and she pooped so much and swelling went back down). I read I should just feed soft food today (since swelling is down), like mushed up fruit, watered down mush/food, egg and plenty of water (I put the water bowl out which they all like better then the nipples, that way she would be tempted to drink more).

 

[CKfarm22]

Seems like she worked it out herself. But definitely keep an eye on the crop and make sure it doesn’t get impacted again. Watch what she’s eating and i wouldn’t let her have “treats” or corn at least for a couple days.

By sawdust looking, do you mean yellow and dry?

I would stick to just putting a little water in her food until it becomes the texture of oatmeal. I would not give her fruit or egg today.

Also, exactly how much corn are you giving your chickens?

 

[Rockergirl]

Seems like she worked it out herself. But definitely keep an eye on the crop and make sure it doesn’t get impacted again. Watch what she’s eating and i wouldn’t let her have “treats” or corn at least for a couple days.

By sawdust looking, do you mean yellow and dry?

I would stick to just putting a little water in her food until it becomes the texture of oatmeal. I would not give her fruit or egg today.

Also, exactly how much corn are you giving your chickens?

Thank you. I'll def keep an eye on her. Regarding the corn, I just started giving them corn this week, for the first time, because of the cold. It's from "Scratch and Peck" -it's whole kernel. I did worry I gave them too much. I did it twice this week, I threw out maybe 1/3 cup all over their run (not in their feeder) so that they could walk around and peck at it. The floor space (if I remember correctly) is 8X6 so I figure some got lost in the hemp....This girl is the one that I would consider "the eater" she seems to want to eat everything, will chase/block to get treats before the other 3 can get them. I also gave them kale this week, for the first time.

I'm attaching pics of some of the poop before we threw it out. I guess not really sawdust looking but looks like bits of sawdust is in it...

 

[CKfarm22]

Thank you. I'll def keep an eye on her. Regarding the corn, I just started giving them corn this week, for the first time, because of the cold. It's from "Scratch and Peck" -it's whole kernel. I did worry I gave them too much. I did it twice this week, I threw out maybe 1/3 cup all over their run (not in their feeder) so that they could walk around and peck at it. The floor space (if I remember correctly) is 8X6 so I figure some got lost in the hemp....This girl is the one that I would consider "the eater" she seems to want to eat everything, will chase/block to get treats before the other 3 can get them. I also gave them kale this week, for the first time.

I'm attaching pics of some of the poop before we threw it out. I guess not really sawdust looking but looks like bits of sawdust is in it...

Looks like she had too much fiber, which could be the corn. Chickens are only supposed to get treats once a week. And it shouldn’t make up 10% of their food. You can give corn as a treat but i would suggest no more than one tablespoon.

Although corn is considered a “hot” food, But this “heat” is a caloric measure, not temperature. Meaning it makes their metabolism works faster. Does nothing to provide heat for them!

 

[Rockergirl]

Looks like she had too much fiber, which could be the corn. Chickens are only supposed to get treats once a week. And it shouldn’t make up 10% of their food. You can give corn as a treat but i would suggest no more than one tablespoon.

Although corn is considered a “hot” food, But this “heat” is a caloric measure, not temperature. Meaning it makes their metabolism works faster. Does nothing to provide heat for them!

When you say one tablespoon, is that per chicken? I def gave more than that, yikes! I feel bad.... I somewhat get confused on treats....would you consider kale or squash treats too, and should only be given once a week? I typically give them one scrambled egg (no seasoning) a week to share, once a week I may give them a very small portion of finely cut up squash or pumpkin. Like I said, this week i gave them some kale and sometimes I put an herb plant like sage in their run for them to peck on or will toss out some garden carrot (the green tops). Are things like that okay throughout the weeks okay, more than once a week? I was thinking with "treats" that was more like grubs or I guess corn or other seeds? maybe fruits? not the greens and other veggies.

 

[Rockergirl]

I have been watching her today and I actually think she may have sour crop? She looks a little swollen again, on the same side, not like she did yesterday. It looked better this morning and now I'm not sure if I'm just being paranoid. She still can't "talk" and I picked her up this afternoon and rub in the area and it felt squishy, but then I think - well maybe it's just a little puffy because how swollen it was yesterday and that she passed it all this morning...maybe it's just "recovering"? It def does not feel hard. She seems happy though, besides not able to talk. I read with sour crop I should give her monistat or apple cider in water (which I feel like they will all walk away from with cider)? Of course, I don't want to do that unless I'm sure...... with sour crop, does she also need to be isolated and have food withheld from her? Will sour crop potentially work itself out on it's own? And, could both crop issues be cause of her losing her voice?