Older Hen with Slow Crop: Slow Crop Treatment with Updates

[micstrachan]

Happy to help! That’s why we’re all here... help, support, and friendship!

 

[elissarules]

Happy to help! That’s why we’re all here... help, support, and friendship!

Very, very true! Thank you!

 

[pasuit]

Thank you! I hope so too!



I plan on focusing on the coop issues later. I need to fix the poor baby's sour crop and mites first. I do plan on making a separate thread focusing on what's best for the coop I currently have! Thank you for your help!

UPDATE 4: So this morning I checked her crop about 4 minutes after I fed her. I gave her 1/2 yogurt mixed with extra probiotic, mealworms, grits, and the other half being layer crumbles. Anyway, it seemed smaller AGAIN! So the "fasting" is definitely working. I even felt like...grits in there? I felt the crop of my younger chickens to compare. Hers is definitely more spacious and doesn't have as much grit in there as the younger ones, but it's definitely an improvement.

I think I'm going to only feed her in the morning now, and take away the food at night on her eating days so I can get a really good judge on how her crop is working.

Just read too that yogurt can cause diarrhea in chickens. Which is good, since for a minute I was panicking that she had Newcastle's disease (or whatever it is).

Another thing...ugh! I made a mistake! The dog crate I bought came with a removable tray for cleaning, so I've been using that so I can wash the feces off... Problem is I caught her eating some of the poo today! So I'm going to have to remove the tray, flip the cage upside down (the bottom of the cage has very wide-set wires), and prop it on a stand so she can't interact with it. It's probably for the best anyway: cleaning up after her everyday was really gross, and she was sitting in her poo until I cleaned it...

So things are moving along pretty well. I feel pretty secure in how things are going. Hopefully tomorrow she looks even better!

 

[pasuit]

Really empressed with the care you are giving to this hen. You are giving 150 percent. Kudos.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So this morning I checked her crop about 4 minutes after I fed her. I gave her 1/2 yogurt mixed with extra probiotic, mealworms, grits, and the other half being layer crumbles. Anyway, it seemed smaller AGAIN!

Another thing...ugh! I made a mistake! The dog crate I bought came with a removable tray for cleaning, so I've been using that so I can wash the feces off... Problem is I caught her eating some of the poo today! So I'm going to have to remove the tray, flip the cage upside down (the bottom of the cage has very wide-set wires), and prop it on a stand so she can't interact with it. It's probably for the best anyway: cleaning up after her everyday was really gross, and she was sitting in her poo until I cleaned it...

How is she today?
You're doing good.

The only way that you can accurately check crop function is to feel the crop at night - see how full it is, then check it first thing in the morning before she has had anything to eat/drink. Crop should be full at night and empty/flat in the morning.

If there is light where she can see at night, remove all the food/water so you can gauge the crop function.

I would not mix grit with the foods that you are giving her, just make it available free choice.

As for the poop....well, chickens eat poop all the time so not really anything to be too concerned about there. Place some pine shavings in the tray to help absorb the poop.
Since you have her confined to the cage, you may want to put some type of roosting bar (sturdy branch, etc.) through the cage bars so she can roost at night - this may help with the poopy bottom - if she doesn't have a way to roost, then she will be soiled in the morning by laying in her poop (they poop all night long).

As for the legs, it looks like Scaly Leg Mites. Vaseline on the legs is helpful, so that was a good move. If the legs look irritated, you can also soak them in a warm epsom salts bath, give them a gentle scrub, dry them well, then reapply the vaseline. It can take a while for the scales to slough off and for them to be replaced. Apply your vaseline at least once a week for several weeks.

 

[elissarules]

Really empressed with the care you are giving to this hen. You are giving 150 percent. Kudos.

Thank you!!! It’s been rewarding so far!! I really appreciate it.

How is she today?
You're doing good.

The only way that you can accurately check crop function is to feel the crop at night - see how full it is, then check it first thing in the morning before she has had anything to eat/drink. Crop should be full at night and empty/flat in the morning.

If there is light where she can see at night, remove all the food/water so you can gauge the crop function.

I would not mix grit with the foods that you are giving her, just make it available free choice.

As for the poop....well, chickens eat poop all the time so not really anything to be too concerned about there. Place some pine shavings in the tray to help absorb the poop.
Since you have her confined to the cage, you may want to put some type of roosting bar (sturdy branch, etc.) through the cage bars so she can roost at night - this may help with the poopy bottom - if she doesn't have a way to roost, then she will be soiled in the morning by laying in her poop (they poop all night long).

As for the legs, it looks like Scaly Leg Mites. Vaseline on the legs is helpful, so that was a good move. If the legs look irritated, you can also soak them in a warm epsom salts bath, give them a gentle scrub, dry them well, then reapply the vaseline. It can take a while for the scales to slough off and for them to be replaced. Apply your vaseline at least once a week for several weeks.

Thank you sooo much!

She is very good today!

Unfortunately I read this after I had fed her, so I wasn’t able to follow your crop advice! However! I plan on doing this tonight and the rest of the time for me treating her! There isn’t any light where she can see, but I think I’ll be removing the water and food at night from here on then, since I don’t check up on her til morning to mid-morning most days (I am a college student after all...) and there’s sun then.

Do you mind me asking why not? I’ve never bought grit for my birds before so they’re not exposed to it. In fact, I filled a relatively small feed container by the chicken feed for the rest of the flock and they aren’t interested from the looks of it. The bag said I could either mix a certain amount per pound of chicken feed or separate it. I can feel the grits in her crop now. Is it maybe that she’ll be eating too much?

Oh, okay!!! That sounds pretty smart for the roost thing. I’ll see what I can do. I read somewhere to not put bedding down in the cage, but that might have been to see the fecal signs of illness...so I guess it doesn’t really apply here.

Thank you sooooo much! I read to apply it daily, but along with all fuss with her crop, it’s been a little overwhelming to consider that. Weekly sounds doable!! I gave her feet a good scrubbing a couple of days ago because she had some feces in her scales! But I may end up doing the scrub again. I wouldn’t say they look irritated. They just look dry and flaky. It’s pretty interesting too; when I was washing her feet I could tell that the scales were dead but were still attached by live tissue.

Anyway, thank you sooo much for your help!!! I’ll definitely be using your advice!!! You guys don’t know how relieving hearing everyone’s advice and support has been!


UPDATE 5: I’ll probably do an update tonight...As of now, her crop felt firmer? Not as squishy like fluid but feels more like air? Still feel the grits. She’s really hungry! Her appetite has not left her whatsoever. I was mixing her food in front of her and she was following me and bawking away!! She even ate too fast and I was worried she was choking (she wasn’t, it just got stuck in her throat way) and took her food away for about 5-10 minutes while my fiancé helped clean her cage. Checked her throat and watched her but she was fine!

 

[Kiki]

I have not read all the way through yet.

DE will not kill leg mites.
Something like this may be easier to use compared to the vaseline:
View media item 7895288

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you mind me asking why not? I’ve never bought grit for my birds before so they’re not exposed to it. In fact, I filled a relatively small feed container by the chicken feed for the rest of the flock and they aren’t interested from the looks of it. The bag said I could either mix a certain amount per pound of chicken feed or separate it. I can feel the grits in her crop now. Is it maybe that she’ll be eating too much?

Can you post a photo of the bag of grit you have? Is it crushed granite or oyster shell?

Mixing grit with feed makes them have to pick through the feed, this can cause waste and billing of feed out the containers. Chickens don't need a ton of grit (crushed granite), they will pick up/consume a piece or two here and there when they need it. Grit is stored in the gizzard and used to grind foods so they can process it.

It never hurts to make poultry grit (crushed granite) available to your flock free choice. Sometimes, depending on your soil, your chickens may find enough small rocks/stones while scratching around that they don't take what you have provided. Again, they don't eat it everyday, just when they feel they need it, so overtime, you may not miss just a few pieces out of the container. A bag of grit can last for years.

She’s really hungry! Her appetite has not left her whatsoever. I was mixing her food in front of her and she was following me and bawking away!! She even ate too fast and I was worried she was choking

How often are you feeding her?

 

[elissarules]

I have not read all the way through yet.

DE will not kill leg mites.
Something like this may be easier to use compared to the vaseline:
View media item 7895288

This is such a smart idea!!! I did hear you can use coconut oil, so this is genius! I’ll have to go pick up some sometime this week. Why doesn’t diatomaceous earth kill them? Is it bc they’re in the chickens’ feet?

Can you post a photo of the bag of grit you have? Is it crushed granite or oyster shell?

Mixing grit with feed makes them have to pick through the feed, this can cause waste and billing of feed out the containers. Chickens don't need a ton of grit (crushed granite), they will pick up/consume a piece or two here and there when they need it. Grit is stored in the gizzard and used to grind foods so they can process it.

It never hurts to make poultry grit (crushed granite) available to your flock free choice. Sometimes, depending on your soil, your chickens may find enough small rocks/stones while scratching around that they don't take what you have provided. Again, they don't eat it everyday, just when they feel they need it, so overtime, you may not miss just a few pieces out of the container. A bag of grit can last for years.


How often are you feeding her?

I have both oyster shell and I think the granite kind. I bought them at Tractor Supply Co. I can tell she is eating them. I’ll just supply her a small bowl of them then. Is oyster shell better for her? I bought the granite kind and gave it to her bc it has probiotics in there too. I have not given her the oyster shell, just the granite. Thank you so much for your help!!!

I’m feeding her every other day. Giving her just water for 24 hours and then feeding her for 24 hours. My mom is worried I’m “starving” her, and honestly now I’m not too sure if that’s a good idea.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This is such a smart idea!!! I did hear you can use coconut oil, so this is genius! I’ll have to go pick up some sometime this week. Why doesn’t diatomaceous earth kill them? Is it bc they’re in the chickens’ feet?

I have both oyster shell and I think the granite kind. I bought them at Tractor Supply Co. I can tell she is eating them. I’ll just supply her a small bowl of them then. Is oyster shell better for her? I bought the granite kind and gave it to her bc it has probiotics in there too. I have not given her the oyster shell, just the granite. Thank you so much for your help!!!

I’m feeding her every other day. Giving her just water for 24 hours and then feeding her for 24 hours. My mom is worried I’m “starving” her, and honestly now I’m not too sure if that’s a good idea.

Oyster shell is a soluble form of calcium, laying hens will eat it when they need calcium.
Poultry grit is usually crushed granite, which is insoluble. These small stones are used in the gizzard to help a chicken process/grind foods. I'm a bit confused at your mentioning the granite kind has probiotics? Does the bag they have added probiotics to the grit?

Does this hen still lay eggs? You can make the oyster shell free choice along with the granite grit if you like, but I would worry since you are limiting her food, that she may over-consume both because it sounds like she is hungry.

Is she pooping o.k.? Let us know what her crop feels like first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks. Along with a photo of her in the morning of her standing up, not being held so we can see the crop.