Rooster's crop contains hardly anything although he's acting normal

[cuteychickens15]

Hi,
I've been worrying for the past week about my rooster. He wasnt eating or drinking or pooing much. Then he started drinking again and i saw him poop a few times. I feel him at night and his crop is not much bigger than a grape sized amount of chicken food pellets. He eats if i give him something nice like mashed feed, sunflower seeds, apple etc. He tries to give treats and food out to hens (he makes "ACK ACK ACK!" sound) before having any himself which is really annoying (but cute at the same time!) when i'm trying to feed things especially to him.

His comb is darker at the back for some reason (only came about in last few weeks).

I'm going on holiday with my family in about a week.
I wish he'd get better. I honestly think i'm starting to become depressed (actually depressed) because it's just getting too much to worry about. I love them so much. I'm also worried about another hen which I think may have just gone broody but it's not like her (she's usually quite a nasty hen, top of the pecking order) and 2 other hens seem to have been broody for months (despite not laying eggs so often, no idea what they think they're playing at).

I'd be heartbroken if any of them died.

What do I do?? My mum says im worrying about nothing but she wouldn't be as bothered as me if any of the chickens died (i'd be crying for months).

I have been putting digestion capsule powder into nice food for him (with Cellulase enzyme in it to break down any possible grass gizzard impaction but not sure why he isnt eating).

Should I try epsom salt water for him to drink? some people say it doesnt work
He doesnt seem to like yoghurt, however the hens love it.

What can I give him to completely flush all of the possible blockage out of his system? I love him so much. Please help. Thankyou <3

 

[cuteychickens15]

 

[HeiHeisMom]

He's gorgeous!
Try just water for 24 hours. It won't harm him at all but will help him flush if needed.
Also Chookies stop eating as weather warms up. May be nothing at all to worry about. He looks really healthy!

 

[BarredRockMom]

Well, yes it could just be nothing, I agree. Warm weather, eating less, letting his girls eat instead, all sounds plausible. If he's nit lethargic, hunched and doesn't seem "off", I wouldn't do anything. Do you have someone to look in on your flock while you're away? They may be able to text you updates & pics, letting you know that they're doing just fine.

I have a home remedy if you think he's gotten into something that he ought not to have eaten. Even if it doesn't apply her & now, you can keep this in your chicken info under "things I hope to never need, but..."

By all means, if the birds don't seem like they have a problem, don't use this (it won't hurt them, it's simply that you don't want to stress them, treat them, or risk aspiration unnecessarily.). And a chicken who doesn't need this is going to be MOST unhappy, squirmy & looking for a way out if the situation. That's another way to know you shouldn't be giving this potion.

This works to flush any toxins out of the liver & re-alkalize the body. Ready?

1 If there's someone who can help to hold the bird while you do this, that will be great. I've been doing this for a while but I always have someone hold for me.)

2 You need a small syringe (I use a thin, 1cc/1m allergy syringe, without the needle.)

3 In a small glass, drop in 1 teaspoon of Baking Soda.

4 Add 1 teaspoon of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg's brand here in the USA, as it's organic, unpasteurized & has 'the Mother' (aka good enzymes) in it. [Never use any other kind of vinegar, as they are toxic, ok? Organic, unpasteurized, Apple Cider Vinegar is what you want.)

5 Yep, it's going to fizz & bubble. This is a normal chemical reaction & what you want.

6 Mix in 2 teaspoons of tap water (or bottled, still). Swirl to mix well. Draw up the complete mix of baking soda & liquid into the syringe. It doesn't have to be a perfect mix, just some of both.

7 I usually go about .5cc/.5ml, or half of the syringe at a time. Open his beak***.

***Now you may already know this (no condescension intended), but just in case you don't... A chicken's windpipe is visible when their mouth is open. It's that small hole on one side of the throat. That goes directly to their lungs & you never want to get any liquid into the lungs... that's called aspirating & causes a lot of problems. (Same for people when we swallow wrong.)

This might take a bit to accomplish. It's up to the bird, really. You can't rush though, so just stay calm & when the wiggle & struggle, be patient, give 'em a moment to compose him/herself, pet them and reassure them. Then try again. Assuming that this is a real need, the early treatments will be more tolerated than later treatments, because let's face it...when they feel better, they are going to be well & truly over having any more of this mixture!

8 If you can get the syringe kinda down the throat, on the opposite side of the windpipe and below the windpipe opening & push the plunger, that'll deliver the detox potion.

9 I give the bird is much as I can. They hate it, it tastes awful, but does the detox trick. (Try some just so you can genuinely say you know, you're sorry but that it will help. You're going to hate it, too, but it's worked on people, cats, dogs & chickens, so far!)

10 When they're sick, they don't struggle too much, but as the feel better, they sure will protest. Give potion twice a day for 2-3 days but MAKE A FRESH BATCH EACH TIME (because the fresh chemical reaction is what binds to the toxins.) Throw out what doesn't get used.

I don't know that you need this now, like I said, but perhaps in the future you might.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

View attachment 1436699

Very handsome lad you have !

 

[cuteychickens15]

Well, yes it could just be nothing, I agree. Warm weather, eating less, letting his girls eat instead, all sounds plausible. If he's nit lethargic, hunched and doesn't seem "off", I wouldn't do anything. Do you have someone to look in on your flock while you're away? They may be able to text you updates & pics, letting you know that they're doing just fine.

I have a home remedy if you think he's gotten into something that he ought not to have eaten. Even if it doesn't apply her & now, you can keep this in your chicken info under "things I hope to never need, but..."

By all means, if the birds don't seem like they have a problem, don't use this (it won't hurt them, it's simply that you don't want to stress them, treat them, or risk aspiration unnecessarily.). And a chicken who doesn't need this is going to be MOST unhappy, squirmy & looking for a way out if the situation. That's another way to know you shouldn't be giving this potion.

This works to flush any toxins out of the liver & re-alkalize the body. Ready?

1 If there's someone who can help to hold the bird while you do this, that will be great. I've been doing this for a while but I always have someone hold for me.)

2 You need a small syringe (I use a thin, 1cc/1m allergy syringe, without the needle.)

3 In a small glass, drop in 1 teaspoon of Baking Soda.

4 Add 1 teaspoon of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg's brand here in the USA, as it's organic, unpasteurized & has 'the Mother' (aka good enzymes) in it. [Never use any other kind of vinegar, as they are toxic, ok? Organic, unpasteurized, Apple Cider Vinegar is what you want.)

5 Yep, it's going to fizz & bubble. This is a normal chemical reaction & what you want.

6 Mix in 2 teaspoons of tap water (or bottled, still). Swirl to mix well. Draw up the complete mix of baking soda & liquid into the syringe. It doesn't have to be a perfect mix, just some of both.

7 I usually go about .5cc/.5ml, or half of the syringe at a time. Open his beak***.

***Now you may already know this (no condescension intended), but just in case you don't... A chicken's windpipe is visible when their mouth is open. It's that small hole on one side of the throat. That goes directly to their lungs & you never want to get any liquid into the lungs... that's called aspirating & causes a lot of problems. (Same for people when we swallow wrong.)

This might take a bit to accomplish. It's up to the bird, really. You can't rush though, so just stay calm & when the wiggle & struggle, be patient, give 'em a moment to compose him/herself, pet them and reassure them. Then try again. Assuming that this is a real need, the early treatments will be more tolerated than later treatments, because let's face it...when they feel better, they are going to be well & truly over having any more of this mixture!

8 If you can get the syringe kinda down the throat, on the opposite side of the windpipe and below the windpipe opening & push the plunger, that'll deliver the detox potion.

9 I give the bird is much as I can. They hate it, it tastes awful, but does the detox trick. (Try some just so you can genuinely say you know, you're sorry but that it will help. You're going to hate it, too, but it's worked on people, cats, dogs & chickens, so far!)

10 When they're sick, they don't struggle too much, but as the feel better, they sure will protest. Give potion twice a day for 2-3 days but MAKE A FRESH BATCH EACH TIME (because the fresh chemical reaction is what binds to the toxins.) Throw out what doesn't get used.

I don't know that you need this now, like I said, but perhaps in the future you might.

Thanks for the method, I will copy it down in case I need it later on but I was trying to give him yoghurt via syringe into the beak (little bits into the side of the beak so he could swallow himself) but he kept trying to close his beak. I think i'd probably end up getting it down his windpipe by accident.

 

[cuteychickens15]

Very handsome lad you have !

Thanks

 

[Tesumph]

The above directions are INCREDIBLY dangerous. The risk of aspiration is so high if you do that. You may get lucky and nothing will happen or you may have him literally drown and die a horrible death in your lap. If you are going to force feed ANYTHING to a chicken, you either need to: apply small amounts with a dropper to the side of his beak so he swallows it himself, or tube feed. If you suspect an impacted crop, then there are other direction out there.
Please do not attempt to use a regular medicine syringe down a chickens throat. It’s difficult, finicky, not long enough, and the chance of aspirating him is high. I’m sorry to sound so firm but you will never forgive yourself if you kill him trying to do that.

I cannot say anything for the mixture that was suggested. I’ve never heard of it, which makes me doubtful. I would research further before you put anything into your animal’s bodies. Any flush would be very unpleasant for him and possibly totally unnecessary for whatever is happening.

You mentioned a grape sized lump of food in his crop. Does that go away in the morning before he eats, or is it still there?

Does his breast bone feel particularly sharp? How much does he weigh? I would start monitoring his weight to see if he’s rapidly losing it, and in the future to see how fast he starts gaining again.

 

[2 many chickens]

The above directions are INCREDIBLY dangerous. The risk of aspiration is so high if you do that. You may get lucky and nothing will happen or you may have him literally drown and die a horrible death in your lap. If you are going to force feed ANYTHING to a chicken, you either need to: apply small amounts with a dropper to the side of his beak so he swallows it himself, or tube feed. If you suspect an impacted crop, then there are other direction out there.
Please do not attempt to use a regular medicine syringe down a chickens throat. It’s difficult, finicky, not long enough, and the chance of aspirating him is high. I’m sorry to sound so firm but you will never forgive yourself if you kill him trying to do that.

I cannot say anything for the mixture that was suggested. I’ve never heard of it, which makes me doubtful. I would research further before you put anything into your animal’s bodies. Any flush would be very unpleasant for him and possibly totally unnecessary for whatever is happening.

You mentioned a grape sized lump of food in his crop. Does that go away in the morning before he eats, or is it still there?

Does his breast bone feel particularly sharp? How much does he weigh? I would start monitoring his weight to see if he’s rapidly losing it, and in the future to see how fast he starts gaining again.

Sounds like some chicKen witchcraft to me.. that ladies post up there.
This isn't science class, we're not making a paper mache volcano.
Baking soda and vinegar is best for cleaning and crafting.

 

[BarredRockMom]

Sounds like some chicKen witchcraft to me.. that ladies post up there.
This isn't science class, we're not making a paper mache volcano.
Baking soda and vinegar is best for cleaning and crafting.

Oh for the love of Mike, "Chicken Witchcraft"? Really?? From Baking Soda, ACV & water? Do some research. It's an old time detox remedy that has nothing to do with black magic or any other kind of hocus pocus. Good grief, next thing you'll be telling folks is that all this malarkey about the Earth being round is a fantasy. Just because you don't know about it does NOT make it invalid. If YOU wouldn't use the remedy then don't use it & move on. "Chicken Witchcraft" (or ANY other kind) my arse!