New chicken - think it's impacted crop

[gocrow77]

1) silkie rooster
2) lethargic
3) not eating no injury
4) NA
5) I have been feeding game bird feed to all of my birds with occasional scratch and other household scraps
6) no poop today that I have seen - previous poos were normal
7) standard treatment for impacted crop (oil and massage)
8) Would like to treat myself in as far as I am able, but no "heroic measures"
9) NA
10) bedding consists of pine shavings in coop










Hi, I have had my silkie roo for about a week or so now. He has been very active, happy, and healthy. I think I may have made a mistake in free feeding him since he has been here. In his previous "home" he had been "turned loose" to fend for himself. The people who found him and gave him to me reported tht the previous owners had threatened to wring his neck if she brought him back home to them after he had been found wandering around her place. He was "loose" for about a month. Well this morning we found him just laying down with a very hard crop that is very distended. You can see the outlines of scratch and other food through the skin. Well I massaged and dosed him with a few tsp of vegie oil ( don't have any olive oil on hand ATM ). His crop is softer and more maleable now. I have him in a towel in a basket under a desk where it is quiet and dark. I feel sort of responsible for his condition. He certainly was not used to getting all the food etc he wanted before he arrived at my place - and other than raiding the gardens of people in the area that he had been wandering before he was not used to any of the other foods I have been giving him. I hope I have not literally been "killing him with kindness" in my attempt to make up for his previous poor owner. Is there anything else I can/should be doing for him? He is the only bird I have let one of my children "claim" as his own - I sure don't want this to be a bad experience with his first chicken of his very own. Really would like some additional input if any is available.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Looks like you're on the right track. With hold any food, and only give some water for now and see if it resolves on it's on. Some have used tiny pieces of bread soaked in olive oil. Not tried it, so can't say if it works or not.

If he simply gorged on food, maybe just letting it be for a while will give enough time to digest it down. ALso, if he is NOT use to being held, and around people, maybe put it back in the coop, while in a cage, or at least so it can't get to food, and see if it more happier. If stressed, the digestion will slow down as well.

DO you happen to have a rabbit cage, or bird cage you can keep him outside for a few hours and then recheck him? That would allow him to be away from people, but confined so you can recheck easier.

I'm just thinking outloud here, but would you mentioned him being in the house, I wondered just how tame this fella is, and if that would be stressful for him.

Watch first and foremost to see that he is drinking! They can survive longer without food, than without water. Second, watch for droppings that show the food is working it's way into the gizzard, and through the digestive system.

We'll go from there.

Please keep me posted on how he's doing!

 

[gocrow77]

Well, poor little Benjamin Cisco passed away. I just went back to check on him and he was already stiff. Thanks for the response and help NotTheMomma....... I appreciate the attempt.

 

[starting.from.scratch]

So sorry for your loss-You obviously cared for him, and you were trying!

 

[gocrow77]

Thanks - now to have "the talk" with my son....... He was very attached.