Rhode Is Red heath issue

[KORKOR]

One of my Rhode Is Reds has developed a hard bump on her chest and continually flicks/shakes her head (that could be lice). She still eats but not as much as she usually does and sits down most of the day. Can someone please provide me with information on the possible causes of this and what can be done to fix it?

Thanks

 

[Chickengal505]

Is it on the skin like a scab or under the skin like a growth??? not much info to work with here. Calm down and feel around does it seem to hurt her when you do that? How old is she? I understand this is scary just give us somthing to work with Hugs and hopes!

 

[KORKOR]

Hello Chickengal505 and thanks for your reply,

I've checked the bump again and it appears to be UNDER the skin and on the right side. I pressed it gently and it didn't seem to hurt her. I've noticed that sometimes the bump subsides a bit or reduces in size.
I don't know her age because she was given to us as a gift but I assume (based on her appearance and the appearance of the other two) that she's about middle-aged or older.)

Thanks

 

[michelio]

It sounds like she is crop bound. There are many posts with info on here (just type crop bound in search
or you can go to http://farmingfriends.com/crop-bound-a-poultry-complaint/
It has good info on crop binding and sour crop as well. Good luck!

 

[KORKOR]

Hi michelio,

Thanks for your reply, I'll try both options. Can't wait to find out what crop bound is. (still new to all this)

 

[theFox]

Quote:
Do a search on here for impacted crop.

The crop is where a chicken stores the food it is eating, if all systems are working what is in the crop is passed to and slowly ground up in their gizzard and finally exits via their vent.

Sometimes they don't have any grit in their gizzard and the works gets gummed up. After a bit of time the crop becomes packed full of food.

This can also happen if they get something that can't pass into their gizzard.

It can get to the point where the only way to fix the issue is via surgery.

But first you have to be certain that this is what your chicken actually has.

There are many thread on here about the subject.

It is normal for a chicken's crop to enlarge during the day and to be almost empty when they come down from their nightly roosting.

So the first suggestion is to check their crop first thing in the morning. If it is almost empty then they are fine.

Make certain that if you are feeding your birds other than commercial chicken feed that you also provide free choice access to chicken grit.

BTW, commercial chicken feed does not include scratch as that contains some whole seed.

 

[KORKOR]

Hi Fox and thanks for your help. I gave her about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and massaged the bump (as suggested by one of the results of my search). She wasn't in any pain and actually seemed to enjoy it. I could then hear something like burping sounds coming from her stomach (if that's where they were coming from) and apparently this means that juices and nutrients are entering the stomach (possibly the food that's been clogged) I'll check again in the morning.