Not just molting-crop HELP! 🙏🏻♥️

[ANiceKaren]

Hi everyone,
I made a few posts about my 1.5 year old EE Dandelion and concerns with her molting symptoms. She is definitely going through a molt BUT I’ve also noticed her lethargicness and not eating. She won’t eat any feed but will eat melon, free range treats and worms. I got her to eat some shredded cheese too last night. (I was desperate) This morning however I realized something else is going on… her crop was hardish and full this morning after sleeping so I’m assuming we have an impacted crop on top of molting! I don’t smell sour so I don’t think it’s sour crop.. I’ve never had a crop issue before so any help is appreciated! I’m worried about her because she has gotten so thin! I assumed her lack of eating was due to molting! I took her off the roost this morning and gave her bites of coconut oil and began massaging her crop. It may have gotten a bit softer but hard to tell..What else can I be doing? I have to work today so I can’t massage again until I get home! Will she be ok? Do I need to isolate her? She would be so stressed out if I took her from the flock? Will the oil and massaging clear it? I’m worried about Dandelion! We love her so much!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Sounds like she is having a bad day:/ She very well might have not been eating because of her molt, but cheese might be causing some of her issues. Cheese can cause constipation, compaction and digestion issues especially if they are not use to dairy products. Even if your chicken only ate a little, if she wasn't eating much before what seems like a little for us can be a lot for a chicken. My nephew actually just had to go to the ER for severe constipation and compaction from eating cheese on an empty stomach after being sick with a stomach bug. His stomach was hard as a rock and it stopped up his entire system.

 

[ANiceKaren]

Sounds like she is having a bad day:/ She very well might have not been eating because of her molt, but cheese might be causing some of her issues. Cheese can cause constipation, compaction and digestion issues especially if they are not use to dairy products. Even if your chicken only ate a little, if she wasn't eating much before what seems like a little for us can be a lot for a chicken. My nephew actually just had to go to the ER for severe constipation and compaction from eating cheese on an empty stomach after being sick with a stomach bug. His stomach was hard as a rock and it stopped up his entire system.

Oh well I hope I didn’t make worse!

 

[coach723]

I would continue giving her fluids and coconut oil, and massaging, trying to get the mass to break up. 3 or 4 times a day, as often as you can. Sometimes birds don't eat and drink well during molt, so that may be part of it, but there may be more going on. Does she have pin feathers coming in? I did read through your other threads, are her droppings always watery? Before this all happened was she laying normally? The crop is the most concerning symptom, I would work on that. Getting her well hydrated and trying to get the lump broken up is important. Have you ever wormed your birds or had a fecal done to check for parasites?

 

[ANiceKaren]

I would continue giving her fluids and coconut oil, and massaging, trying to get the mass to break up. 3 or 4 times a day, as often as you can. Sometimes birds don't eat and drink well during molt, so that may be part of it, but there may be more going on. Does she have pin feathers coming in? I did read through your other threads, are her droppings always watery? Before this all happened was she laying normally? The crop is the most concerning symptom, I would work on that. Getting her well hydrated and trying to get the lump broken up is important. Have you ever wormed your birds or had a fecal done to check for parasites?

Thank you. I definitely think the molt is partly what’s going too. She has feathers coming in which I’ve heard can be the worst time for them. I hate to handle her for massaging but I think it’s worth it. I’m gentle Her dropping lately (past few days) have been mostly all watery as far as I know… I’m working throughout the day so can’t monitor all day. There are some pieces of grass and other items.. but mostly water. I do worm them if I see worms but I haven’t seen any in her or any girls poo. She drinks water and will eat very few treats. My plan is to continue coconut oil and massage a few times a day. I hate to withdraw food as she is choosing not to eat in her own and would be more stressed if I removed from flock? I appreciate all the help! Am I doing the right thing?

 

[ANiceKaren]

I would continue giving her fluids and coconut oil, and massaging, trying to get the mass to break up. 3 or 4 times a day, as often as you can. Sometimes birds don't eat and drink well during molt, so that may be part of it, but there may be more going on. Does she have pin feathers coming in? I did read through your other threads, are her droppings always watery? Before this all happened was she laying normally? The crop is the most concerning symptom, I would work on that. Getting her well hydrated and trying to get the lump broken up is important. Have you ever wormed your birds or had a fecal done to check for parasites?

She was laying normally prior to this and hasn’t layed since starting molt. Once in a while I would have to give her extra calcium via supplement to help her lay strong shells.

 

[coach723]

The mostly water droppings with some bits of grass, and the crop mass, and not wanting to eat says blockage/impaction somewhere to me. Since liquids are passing, if it's been more than a couple of months since worming, I might be inclined to do that. You won't always see anything in the droppings, and if you've had worms in the past then it's definitely a possibility that she's picked them up again. I have had birds get blockages from worms, the worst one took a little over a week post worming to get things moving again. I did fluids, coconut oil and massages daily until that happened. Getting and keeping her hydrated is really important as dehydration will just make it worse. I would focus on those things for now, see if you can get things moving and improving.

 

[ANiceKaren]

The mostly water droppings with some bits of grass, and the crop mass, and not wanting to eat says blockage/impaction somewhere to me. Since liquids are passing, if it's been more than a couple of months since worming, I might be inclined to do that. You won't always see anything in the droppings, and if you've had worms in the past then it's definitely a possibility that she's picked them up again. I have had birds get blockages from worms, the worst one took a little over a week post worming to get things moving again. I did fluids, coconut oil and massages daily until that happened. Getting and keeping her hydrated is really important as dehydration will just make it worse. I would focus on those things for now, see if you can get things moving and improving.

Thank you so much!! Should I let her have any treats as she isn’t eating any food at the moment? She will eat mealworms and some scratch type treats… or not offer anything and let her do what comes natural to her? I appreciate the help so much! I will work them all today.. it won’t make her worse already being weak?

 

[ANiceKaren]

Thank you so much!! Should I let her have any treats as she isn’t eating any food at the moment? She will eat mealworms and some scratch type treats… or not offer anything and let her do what comes natural to her? I appreciate the help so much! I will work them all today.. it won’t make her worse already being weak?

I should mention that while she is lethargic and not herself she will still walk around with friends and even jumped on my fence today to say hello to me!

 

[coach723]

I would only give her water soluble things to eat, her regular pellets or crumbles mixed with some water is good. No dairy, or anything fiberous for sure, that will just upset things more. Until things get moving you don't want to just add to the problem. Looks like a sweet girl!