Sick again! My red speckled Sussex pullet just keeps having crop problems. Help please!

[Skyleen13]

My red speckled Sussex pullet is 10 weeks old. She’s been having recurring crop issues for last 3 weeks. I don’t know why this is keeps happening. She’s got plenty of grit & their run is lined with sand. She 1st started a week after I moved her & 10 others outside to their coop & run. She started doing some funny things with her neck & crop. I managed to figure out that she had sour crop. Treated her for 7 days with miconazole. Her crop was flat & she was healthy for about 2 days then her crop got huge. I could hear & feel her food inside her crop. No sour smell. Regular poo. Drinking plenty but was being a food glutton. Put her into a chicken bra to try & help her slow down & process her food more effectively. Worked for about 4 days. Her crop was flat in the morning & wasn’t so huge in the evening when we put her away for the night. Took the bra off. Everything was fine yesterday. This morning when I went out to check on them she was just laying in a corner. Her crop was massive! Hard. Bigger then ever. I’ve been massaging it & giving her some olive oil to try & get her crop to go down but it’s not. He has pooped twice since I separated her.

Please help. I’m at a loss as to what to do. It’s going down somewhat but it’s still really big. She can’t stand or walk without it dragging on the ground. She’s also started getting skinny. I didn’t notice it yesterday but today I can feel the difference.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This morning when I went out to check on them she was just laying in a corner. Her crop was massive! Hard. Bigger then ever.

Had she been eating/drinking before you checked her this morning?
Is she lethargic?

 

[Skyleen13]

Had she been eating/drinking before you checked her this morning?
Is she lethargic?

She was eating to much! Her crop was the size of a base! I separated her & didn’t feed her for 2 days. Massaged her crop & gave her water & some olive oil to help her clear her crop. She’s back to normal now but she keeps over eating!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What do you feed?

 

[Skyleen13]

What do you feed?

Chick feed with some treats. Meal worms. Apples. Watermelon. Worms we find in the yard. I give all of them 2 16 oz cups of feed a day for 10 10 week old pullets &. 1 rooster who’s about a year old.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Chick feed with some treats. Meal worms. Apples. Watermelon. Worms we find in the yard. I give all of them 2 16 oz cups of feed a day for 10 10 week old pullets &. 1 rooster who’s about a year old.

Cut out the extras for several days and see if she doesn't fill up so much.
I would also try giving her some poultry vitamins a couple of times a week. I have to wonder if she's lacking somehow. (not that you are doing it, it may be her - just like some of us don't process/absorb nutrients like others do)

Another thought here...how is your feed station set up? Is this gal low in pecking order? Being kept from food during the day possibly? She may be hurriedly filling up while the others are busy. I've not had the Pendulous crop, but did have one hen that stuffed herself when the others were doing something else. She was low in pecking order and a couple of hens tried to keep her off food. I added feed stations and the problem was resolved.

 

[Skyleen13]

Cut out the extras for several days and see if she doesn't fill up so much.
I would also try giving her some poultry vitamins a couple of times a week. I have to wonder if she's lacking somehow. (not that you are doing it, it may be her - just like some of us don't process/absorb nutrients like others do)

Another thought here...how is your feed station set up? Is this gal low in pecking order? Being kept from food during the day possibly? She may be hurriedly filling up while the others are busy. I've not had the Pendulous crop, but did have one hen that stuffed herself when the others were doing something else. She was low in pecking order and a couple of hens tried to keep her off food. I added feed stations and the problem was resolved.

She is low on the pecking order but I’ve got 2 separate feeding stations. On opposite sides of the run. I started limiting their feed. It’s actually working really well. She’s filling up but not so much that her crop isn’t emptied but the next day. Her crop also seems to be improving. It’s not so elastic.
I’m giving her the extra vitamins. She doesn’t really want them but she does want protein. I’m giving her some extra in the form of cooked fish. I go trout fishing a lot & have a bunch in freezer. I’ve been cooking it plain. No spice. No oil. All my chickens love it & they seem to be more healthy. Their feathers are more soft & vibrant. I’m thinking that since their all now over 10 weeks old the chick feed doesn’t have all the extra protein they need.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m thinking that since their all now over 10 weeks old the chick feed doesn’t have all the extra protein they need.

I'm glad she is doing better.

Chick starter should have a range of 18-20% protein depending on brand. That *should* be sufficient for juvenile layer breeds. Layer feed that some feed when they come into lay is lower at around 16% protein.

 

[Relleoms]

Every time I’ve had a girl with crop issues, my vet has suggested worming in case worms are causing a blockage/slow down or stealing nutrients. You could have a fecal done to confirm, or worm her just in case.

 

[Skyleen13]

Every time I’ve had a girl with crop issues, my vet has suggested worming in case worms are causing a blockage/slow down or stealing nutrients. You could have a fecal done to confirm, or worm her just in case.

Ok. Thank you. She’s doing way better now.