Maybe impacted crop...maybe not?

[FNF]

Morning - I turn yet again for a health related question for one of my hens. To preface, she is molting right now and hasn't been laying eggs for at least a week. Last night I noticed her wings looked droopy - not tucked up on her body. It was not hot and no other bird was behaving that way. She was drinking water (this is right before bedtime) and standing around the run with the others. I thought she just looked off, maybe a bit lethargic, in addition to the wings. I went ahead and got her - she was very easy to catch and none of my chickens like being handled - and put her in a dog crate with bedding in our laundry room. I did put food and water with ACV in the crate overnight and she did eat and drink before I turned the light off, though she certainly didn't gorge herself.

This morning she still seemed droopy and lethargic. I picked her up and her crop (I'm no expert) felt like a ball. I know she had food in the crate with her but I would have assumed she wouldn't eat much after the light went out and that anything she had consumed before that would have been working its way through her overnight. She is pooping though not the normal firm type, more dark and liquidy (not blood).

So now I'm purely speculating it's perhaps an impacted crop. I read some posts and linked articles here this morning. I removed the food, massaged the crop some, and gave her some grit and a bowl of warm water with some olive oil. I saw her take several drinks from it before I left her in the crate again. Honestly not sure if that's it or not but I'm hoping it is something I can treat at home and not something more nefarious. The droopy wings scared me a bit as we lost a chicken to probable Mareks disease last year. I don't know why she would suddenly develop that after all this time but always a worry for something not treatable. Again, the other chickens, other than various stages of molt, seem okay. Thanks for any insight or advice in advance.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

The droopy wings and acting lethargic are common with a hard molt. Their wings droop because the new blood feathers growing in get heavy. They often will stand inside in a quiet corner when they are going through the worst of it. Since you had food with her in the crate and removed her from the flock I wouldn’t jump to impacted crop just yet. I would put her back with the rest so she isn’t stressed and check her crop in the morning again. If it is full then I would start the process of treating for impacted crop. The poop you are describing sounds like normal cecal poop.

 

[FNF]

Thanks for the reply. I wondered if the lethargy and droopiness might be related to the molt, but I just get a feeling it's not. I have no proof and I hope that it is! The poop is not smelly like a cecal poop, it seems more watery. Currently I'm not surprised by it as she does not have access to food while I try to determine if there is a crop issue. She has had some water with the olive oil and I have massaged the crop several times. She has had grit as well. My assumption would be if I withhold food until the morning, if her crop is functioning correctly it should be normal tomorrow, although you'd think by tonight it would be, 12 hours later?

 

[FNF]

Update - her crop feels empty this morning. She is still droopy and lethargic. Because some of her symptoms sounded like coccidiosis, we did an oral drench of Corid last night and a diluted dose in her water this morning. Because her crop seems better I gave her a scrambled egg with a little grit and some mushy feed. She does seem hungry and interested. Still unsure what the ultimate diagnosis is but one thing at a time.

 

[Eggcessive]

A slow or impacted crop can be a symptom of other issue, such as reproductive disorder, worms, or water belly. It is good that her crop emptied by this morning, so hers may just be slow. I would offer some water mushy chicken feed and egg, and no scratch or whole grains. Plain cultured yogurt, a spoonful daily, or a probiotic may help.

 

[FNF]

She’s still lethargic and kind of weak. Has eaten and had water throughout the day. Just not sure what to make of this.

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you have the past case of Mareks confirmed by a state vet or with testing? Have you added any new birds recently from another place? The Corid is very safe to use, but I would check for the presence of any lice or mites, any weight loss, or enlargement of her lower belly that could be water belly or internal laying. Let us know how she is doing tomorrow morning.

 

[FNF]

I did take the last bird to the state lab and while they suspect that's what it was due to tumors, for some reason they couldn't say 100% it was Marek's. I only had the ten pullets and she was the casualty Aug 2023. They were vaccinated as chicks. I know it's basically impossible to eradicate in the environment but I just was surprised we might have another one affected over a year later, if that's what it is. We're still treating with Corid hoping that's the issue though none of the other birds are acting affected. I don't think there's any enlarged abdomen or anything. I'll report back.

 

[FNF]

Pretty much the same. Drooping wings. She's eating and drinking during the day. Droppings seem to be on the watery side. Lethargic.

 

[FNF]

I think she might pass today. She’s lying down in her crate and sleeping. She’ll open her eyes but then close them. Breathing steadily and doesn’t seem in distress. She has food and water and comfort. So sad.