Older Hen with Slow Crop: Slow Crop Treatment with Updates

[elissarules]

@azygous ? Thoughts?

@elissarules you're doing good Once crop issues start, they can sometimes be hard to resolve.
Let's hope that Carol chimes in with some better ideas than I have had. I'm rooting for your girl.

Thank you so much! Your help has been priceless!! :

Good for you for diagnosing the problem. She does appear a bit "front heavy". I think the crop bra is definitely worth trying. Here's some more information with some pics. http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2016/02/pendulous-crop-in-backyard-chickens.html

I've made an "H" crop bra, and it seemed to fit fine. I made it as a demo to photograph for a thread I was participating on. The OP then took the design and made their own, modifying it a few times over a few days to get it just right.

The objective is to adjust the bra so it supports enough to help the crop empty completely by morning. If the crop is still partially full come morning, the bra needs to be tightened to provide a bit more support. You will know it's correct when the crop is empty in the morning. It may take a week to get it to fit right and do its job. Be patient. Have confidence that you will be able to do this. Your hen believes in you and so do we.

Meanwhile, massage will help your hen be more comfortable. Do it gently with your finger tips, in a circular, upward motion. In fact, it helps to support the heavy lower part of the crop as you massage the middle. As the crop empties from being massaged, then work on the lower crop, pushing the contents upward. Think of your hen's crop as having a "drain" that is higher up than the lowest contents and you need to get them up toward the drain so they can empty.

Oh thank you so much!!! This is incredibly helpful!!! I’ll look into the link later today (I’m going to have to leave for school soon). Should the bra be pressed up against the bottom-middle of the crop then?? I’m very hopeful right now! Thank you. You described it so clearly for me to do it!

I agree and @azygous has described it very well. A crop bra in itself will probably not cure the problem but will prevent it from becoming such an issue in the future. The key is to massage that mass of contents out of her crop and down into her digestive tract and not give her any solid/lumpy foods like grains or even meal worms until you get it empty. Making a slurry with her food and water and oil and perhaps a little scrambled egg every now and then is better than dry or lumpy food, but regular massage for about 10-15 mins as often as you can do it (4x a day if possible) will be key and make sure she has no bedding she can eat.

Thank you! I have been giving her wet chicken feed with some yogurt and extra probiotics (I don’t think she has sour crop but so long as I’m not hurting her with it, I feel okay doing it PLEASE tell me if that’s incorrect!!) and I think that’s non-solid, right? I might make her a boiled/scrambled egg after school. She’s very hungry still so I’m hopeful!

She has no bedding in the cage I have her in. The cage has a built-in removable tray which is perfect for what I’m doing with her! I can just wipe off the “leftovers” at the end of the day.

Also, THANK YOU for saying specifically how often to do it!! It’s been driving me nuts hearing people say “massage it daily” but not telling me for how long or frequently! I’ll try my best to squeeze in 4x a day. It’s really difficult with my schedule to do it that often. But she’s worth it! I can at least do it twice a day.

Also can I massage her with the crop bra on?

One word of caution. Be very gentle and avoid pushing the contents any higher than the middle of the crop or else the contents might be vomited, risking aspiration.

See, whenever people told me to massage her before I didn’t know what to do! I massaged up and down her crop like trying to push the food down. I now understand that’s not correct. So I’m going to try and massage her after school today (I get home around 2 or 3) starting at the bottom working upwards.

You guys are incredible! Thank you so so so so SO much! I’m very excited to see how this all works! Thank you again

 

[azygous]

If the crop bra does its job, the crop will be empty in the morning, and you should not need to keep massaging after that.

Also, if the crop empties overnight and is empty in the morning, you will be reasonably certain sour crop isn't an issue at this time.

Also be aware that pendulous crop is usually a chronic condition, and sour crop can occur at any time if the crop isn't emptying each night. Therefore, you will need to monitor this hen daily.

There is a small possibility that her pendulous crop is a temporary condition and after a period of time wearing the crop bra, you might be able to see if she can do without it. You will know she needs to wear it full time from now on if her crop isn't empty come morning after letting her go without wearing it.

 

[Relleoms]

I purchased a crop bra, and it’s essentially a 3”x5” patch of fabric (not much give, but soft) with 18” straps sewn on top and bottom (similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06W...F8&qid=1517336607&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65). It’s also an H design. I crisscross the straps and tie behind her neck (usually put on 5” side to side and 3” side top to bottom). I find tight enough to fit a finger between her neck and the strap is good, but you might need to tweak for your girl. If the excess straps bother her, you can roll them together & secure with a safety pin, or cut them off (but then they fray & it’s a mess!) I take it off to massage, but you may find you can do the massage with it on. My girl has been dealing with crop issues since April, but other than her crop not emptying, she’s otherwise healthy & happy! She wears the bra probably 3-5 days a week, depending on her condition. Continued success with your sweet girl!!!

 

[Relleoms]

Here are a few photos of the bra, Tilly with it on and off:

 

[elissarules]

If the crop bra does its job, the crop will be empty in the morning, and you should not need to keep massaging after that.

Also, if the crop empties overnight and is empty in the morning, you will be reasonably certain sour crop isn't an issue at this time.

Also be aware that pendulous crop is usually a chronic condition, and sour crop can occur at any time if the crop isn't emptying each night. Therefore, you will need to monitor this hen daily.

There is a small possibility that her pendulous crop is a temporary condition and after a period of time wearing the crop bra, you might be able to see if she can do without it. You will know she needs to wear it full time from now on if her crop isn't empty come morning after letting her go without wearing it.

Her crop has been so full for so long that I doubt it’s a temporary condition. However, it’d be awesome if it were!!! And that is very good to know! I’ll probably keep it on her for 24/7, with monitoring of course.

I purchased a crop bra, and it’s essentially a 3”x5” patch of fabric (not much give, but soft) with 18” straps sewn on top and bottom (similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06W...F8&qid=1517336607&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65). It’s also an H design. I crisscross the straps and tie behind her neck (usually put on 5” side to side and 3” side top to bottom). I find tight enough to fit a finger between her neck and the strap is good, but you might need to tweak for your girl. If the excess straps bother her, you can roll them together & secure with a safety pin, or cut them off (but then they fray & it’s a mess!) I take it off to massage, but you may find you can do the massage with it on. My girl has been dealing with crop issues since April, but other than her crop not emptying, she’s otherwise healthy & happy! She wears the bra probably 3-5 days a week, depending on her condition. Continued success with your sweet girl!!!

Okay!! I will be looking at your link! Thank you so much!! She looks so dear btw! I’m thinking about just sewing one with a leftover ace bandage and some scrap fabric then. Then figure out what fit/measurement works for her and then make one without as much give?

Thank you for all your help!! I am really enjoying all the information everyone has on this stuff! Gives me a solid plan to follow! <3

 

[Relleoms]

You can totally make your own! It’s easier with a sewing machine, but could be done with glue, a needle & thread-whatever you’ve got! I tried making one from a sock and it was definitely a fail, so I bought one and just replace the straps as needed. I’m really hopeful you’ll girl will make a full recovery!!!

 

[Kiki]

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?



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I know this is about horses but see if this explains it for you:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/39...tm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=10-10-2017

 

[elissarules]

You can totally make your own! It’s easier with a sewing machine, but could be done with glue, a needle & thread-whatever you’ve got! I tried making one from a sock and it was definitely a fail, so I bought one and just replace the straps as needed. I’m really hopeful you’ll girl will make a full recovery!!!

I just bought some thinner ace bandage-like material. I do have a sewing machine so I’m probably just gonna make one! Thank you so much!!!

I know this is about horses but see if this explains it for you:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/39...tm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=10-10-2017

Ooh! Thank you! I’ll have to look when I have some more free time. <3 Thanks!!!

 

[elissarules]

Oh guys! I tried making a crop bra earlier today. I couldn’t figure it out so I just cut some ace bandage. It’s really difficult fitting it to her because of how large her crop is.

I’m freaking out because I think she’s been throwing up. I know chickens don’t naturally do it but she was having some food pour out of her mouth with saliva. I saw it in her cage earlier and thought it was poop. She did it twice. Once when I tried to get her out of the cage and after I tried to put her back in.

I can’t get the bandage to press on her lower crop and i’m afraid that the pressure may just push the stuff into her throat and asphyxiate her!!!! What do I do??

 

[elissarules]

There’s also some throw-up in her food. I’m thinking her crop is so full that if she moves her head down at all it’ll make her throw up!