Mushy crop and spit bubble eyes....

[TeamJones]

I have one chick (about 4 months old) with an enlarged, mushy crop. This chick mostly stays off by itself (a new behavior) and her head is pulled down near her shoulders, as if she is cold. She is unusually mellow and easy to catch. I am worried about this chick. Any ideas or suggestions?

I have 2 other chicks and an slightly older (6 month old) hen with watery eyes. They look teary with spit-like bubbles in the front corner. Should I be worried about this? The older hen is looking better, than a few days ago.

Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions.

 

[Mrs.Puff]

What state do you live in? One of my roos had bubble eyes last nite, and it was SUPER cold in the coop. When it's cold, they kinda get watery eyes and snotty noses just like we do sometimes. Your mushy crop gal may have an impacted crop, or she might be ill. You could have a respiratory disease in your flock, which is not terribly uncommon in the winter. I had a hen that got to feeling icky for a couple days, and she drank LOTS of water, which made her crop all big and squishy.

 

[TeamJones]

Thank you Mrs.Puff

We are in South Carolina. It has been cold the past couple of weeks. Up until Thursday, I was breaking ice off the goats water in the morning.

No one is sneezing or coughing and they all seem to be eating and drinking plenty (with the of the chick with the mushy crop). No one has started laying yet, so I can't use egg production as an indicator. Until there are additional symptoms, I'll just keep an eye on the teary ones and try not to worry.... unless there is something else that I should be looking for.

Would an impacted crop be hard, instead of mushy? It could be water, but it has been continuously mushy for at least 2 days now. Is there something that I can do for an impacted crop that is not invasive? A just in case measure that might help, but won't harm in case that is not the problem?

Thanks again!

 

[Mrs.Puff]

There's not much you can do for an impacted crop except to cut it open and clean it out, or you can try pushing the gunk back up and out her mouth. It sounds terrible, but if she is impacted, a forced vomit is the only way she'll make it without you performing surgery. I don't know if the crop would be hard or soft in an impaction. You might try buying some electrolytes or antibiotics at the farm store nearby to give them a boost. I would recommend getting your hand on the "Chicken Health Handbook" by Gail Damerow. It's fairly common, and your library probably has it.
Chronic respiratory disease is common, and it can seriously affect rate of lay. I got it in my flock, and a few of mine never laid again. I had to cull those ones.