Sagging Crop!

[Melovechickens]

Hey guys! So I have a Buff Orpington who's crop has not been emptying properly. My cochin's crop is a little bit squishy in the morning, but it goes down a TON and I don't think is anything to worry about. Anyways, my Orpington has had her crop full of food the size of a small baseball at night, and in the morning (before they can eat) it is about the same size, but feels like it's full of water even though there is no water in the coop. After I came home from school I checked her crop again and it was the size of about a ping pong ball and still watery. This was yesterday. Today I forgot to give them food (bad parent!) and limited their food to 1 and a half cups. Her crop is full and I am still a little bit worried. Someone please give me a solution!! I have seen stuff for crop bras, but I don't know if she needs human attention or if I should just leave her alone. I am going to check again tomorrow and give an update.

 

[Melovechickens]

She did walk around almost all day that day so I don't know if that plays a part in anything. Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How often and what do you feed them?
Do they have a source of poultry grit (crushed granite/small sharp rocks)?

It does sound like you have some crop issues going on. It's best to provide feed free choice during waking hours so they don't run out. Could be they are gorging when food is available - this can stretch the crop which can lead to these issues.

Provide them with their normal feed, plenty of water, eliminate hard to process foods like scratch/seeds/corn for a couple of days and provide a source of grit. See if the crops empty by themselves overnight (full at night-empty first thing in the morning before eating/drinking). If the crops are not flat/empty in the morning then try to determine whether the crops are impacted, slow or sour. http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

 

[Melovechickens]

I usually leave their feed out throughout the whole day with no measuring. So they have food all day everyday except for when they eat it very fast and I can't fit it in in my morning routine. They organic layer pellets from Atwoods. I have just started providing them with grit, but they do roam around our yard for hours a day and we have small rocks everywhere! I have started feeding them 1 and 3/4 cups of feed morning and then night. My orpington's crop has not been flat to her chest at all for like 4 days. I have noticed that it will be very watery in the morning, but throughout the day it will slowly start to recede, but there is food in there so I know she is eating. I don't think she's lost any weight and she is still acting like normal. She seems happy and willing to do things. She's always out except for when she lays her eggs. I don't think they are impacted because I have dealt with that before. I don't know. It is still watery in the morning like a water balloon except way looser. Thanks so much!

 

[Melovechickens]

My only thought is to try and make a crop bra. I don't know how to and have seen a couple articles on it, but I might need some help. If anyone needs a picture of her I can totally do that.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If the crop is still full like a water balloon in the mornings before she has had anything to eat/drink, then she probably has a slow crop.

It's possible she may have a pendulous crop, this is due to the crop being stretched out, either from eating too much all the time, gorging when food is only available at certain times and sometimes it can happen as they get older.

You can Google "chicken crop bra" and finds all sorts of images for those.

 

[smudge]

*Sigh* I totally sympathize, MeLovesChickens.

Apparently you and I are google-fu failures.

We have both posted today asking for DIRECTIONS on how to make a crop bra. If we could *find* pictures that made sense to us, we wouldn't be asking.

Personally *I'm* frustrated.

I can't figure out how the sock thing works. I've destroyed several socks trying.

I can *guess* how the commercial one is fashioned, because it is vaguely similar to what's suggested for the baby cockatiels. And apparently the hen I'm dealing with hasn't gotten the memo that she is to accept being treated like a baby cockatiel or parrot.

I just can't figure out how to get one together that I can put on her that she won't take off.

 

[smudge]

I tried the no-sew version using polar fleece this afternoon, after my attempt with sock + stretch bandage failed.

Similar to http://www.justcockatiels.net/crop-bra.html
However, since the chicken is too big for a single width of vet wrap, cut a long length (at least 2 feet) of polar fleece, about 5" - 6" wide. The stretch should the in the direction of length.

Unlike what suggested, when I cut the sections out to make straps, I made the bottom straps about half the width of the bra, and the top straps, and I tied them crisscross on the back. When tying, pull a bit on the bottom edge so that it puckers less.

Hoping she will stop tearing at herself.

Update: she's still able to slide it down. And she has to stay on a level surface (floor) because she keeps on trying to back out of it. *Sigh* One of these days I'll be unambiguously successful at something. Today is not that day.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

*Sigh* I totally sympathize, MeLovesChickens.

Apparently you and I are google-fu failures.

We have both posted today asking for DIRECTIONS on how to make a crop bra. If we could *find* pictures that made sense to us, we wouldn't be asking.

Personally *I'm* frustrated.

I can't figure out how the sock thing works. I've destroyed several socks trying.

I can *guess* how the commercial one is fashioned, because it is vaguely similar to what's suggested for the baby cockatiels. And apparently the hen I'm dealing with hasn't gotten the memo that she is to accept being treated like a baby cockatiel or parrot.

I just can't figure out how to get one together that I can put on her that she won't take off.

So sorry you're having trouble.

It may be best to order a ready made crop bra. For it to be successful in helping her she will have to wear it all the time. Hopefully you will be able to find one that works for you http://www.hensaver.com/Crop-Bra.html

 

[Melovechickens]

I have seen an article that does show a picture on backyardchickens. I don't want to spend $20 on something I could make myself. Skim through the article and try to find a picture. It doesn't seem too hard. Idk. Is pendulous crop painful? Is sour crop painful? If the contents in my chicken's crop have spoiled and if I use the crop bra and push the spoiled food into her system, will it kill her? Thanks so much!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/eleanors-story-living-with-a-pendulous-crop.66318/