my chickens have developed enlarged crops

[Betty Lou]

Help..I am very new to this chicken farming. I take very good care of the girls, but today they developed enlarged crops. I looked it up on line, there was not much information on it. But it said it was caused by fibrous foods. They said there was not treatment. Does that mean they will die? I am very up set and I hope I can get some help.

Phyllis

 

[Elite Silkies]

They may have impacted crop or sour crop. Look those up and there are a lot of post on here detailing what the treatment is.

 

[chicknjane]

Welcome Phyllis,

Chickens have a very simple digestive system. They eat, the food goes into the crop. They more they eat, the bigger the crop gets. The advice I received when I posted this same question several months ago was to put them in their coop without food at night and in the morning check to see if their crops are still enlarged. If they are, it could be an impacted crop or sour crop. With sour crop, you'll be able to smell the sourness if you smell around their beak. If there's no smell but the crop is still enlarged, then its most likely an impacted crop and you'll have to search the forum for how to deal with that, because that is beyond me.

Good luck, I hope everything goes well, and

 

[Kittymomma]

If they're still enlarged in the morning you have a problem, otherwise they probably just made little chicken piggies out of themselves and are full up at the moment. Some of mine look positively disfigured just before bedtime, nothing wrong with them though, they're just good eaters.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. I have one little piggie hen that I'm not sure how she makes it to roost at night with a crop so full it's dragging her chest down. Next morning, it's empty again.

 

[loujen]

I have the same issue with my hens, the roosters have never had this problem.
I am very concerned as i tried the suggestion of leaving them w/o food at night and the swollen crop went away...however shortly thereafter they die. I only have three hens left and I dont know what i am doing wrong...they are game chickens that i do not fight or breed for selling they are just pets. I do give them a variety of food but they do not have a run they are in coops because of the many predators. Is there some thing i can add to their food, or are they doomed because they are cooped up all the time?

 

[Dot Rhinders]

Phyllis, I'm so glad to hear that the enlarged crops on Betty Lou and Mrs. Pinkbow are gone today! Phew....

Annie

 

[HEChicken]

I have one little piggie hen that I'm not sure how she makes it to roost at night with a crop so full it's dragging her chest down. Next morning, it's empty again.

But the floor under her is full right?

 

[chicknjane]

Quote:
Loujen, I'm just wondering if maybe they need some grit. If they are in the coop all the time, then they aren't getting it naturally. I'm new to raising chickens and only know what I've read.

Please re-post your concerns in its own thread and give as much detail as possible. Someone, more experienced than I will definitely help you.

Good luck.

 

[Betty Lou]

I just want to thank everyone who replied to my plea for information on my crop enlarged chickens. Sure enough, this morning all my girls' crops have gone back to normal. I think it was the pasta I gave them....they love it. Thank you. Phyllis (betty Lou)