questions about my hen's crop

[wildwestcoast]

okay so I am new to chickens and have six point of lays. One of them I noticed acting kinda funny, looked very large in the chest compared to the other ones and would move her head around and look to the sky with her beak open like she was drinking air. I picked her up and checked her out and she had a large softball sized lump on her chest, quite firm. After reading up all about crop issues on this site, massaged her and waited to see how she was today. It was smaller this morning, and easier to massage. I did this several times throughout the day. now it feels much softer and maybe half the size of yesterday. I tried to smell her breath and couldn't smell anything although I got pecked in the nose for my efforts lol. I am wondering if this pliable smaller (half the size) crop means improvement? I am not giving her anything now other than lots of fresh water and layer pellets

 

[GitaBooks]

It should mean she is on the road to recovery!

My chickens will open their beaks and swallow air, jerking their necks when they get food caught in their throats (when they eat too fast). The hard crop was probably a blockage and the massaging helped it go through. If she is eating than it is normal for the crop to feel like it is somewhat full, even so full it bulges (generally this is only in the evening) but by morning it should be small again.

The crop should not feel too hard, since water mixes with food. You can feel the bits of food that they ate when you feel their crops, pellets if they ate pellets or crumble if they ate crumble.


I hope she is doing better. Best of luck!

 

[wildwestcoast]

It should mean she is on the road to recovery!

My chickens will open their beaks and swallow air, jerking their necks when they get food caught in their throats (when they eat too fast). The hard crop was probably a blockage and the massaging helped it go through. If she is eating than it is normal for the crop to feel like it is somewhat full, even so full it bulges (generally this is only in the evening) but by morning it should be small again.

The crop should not feel too hard, since water mixes with food. You can feel the bits of food that they ate when you feel their crops, pellets if they ate pellets or crumble if they ate crumble.


I hope she is doing better. Best of luck!

I hope so thanks for reply. I will keep on with the massaging