Sick chicken - Impacted crop?

[Megpz]

Hi all- brand new chicken owner here. I have four 1-year-old hens that we just got one week ago. I noticed early on that one of them has frequent diarrhea- often it looks like straight up water, sometimes it’s mostly undigested pellets mixed with liquid. She also pants a LOT. It’s very hot here - in the low 90’s lately- so I thought it might all be heat-related, but then a couple of times yesterday and today I noticed some liquid coming from her beak. I’ve done some research and am afraid she might have an impacted crop. Am planning to feel her crop first thing in the morning tomorrow. She’s eating and drinking fine (drinking a lot, actually), and seems energetic.
Any thoughts, other than checking her crop? She’s the sweetest of all our hens, so I am especially worried about her!

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Hi all- brand new chicken owner here. I have four 1-year-old hens that we just got one week ago. I noticed early on that one of them has frequent diarrhea- often it looks like straight up water, sometimes it’s mostly undigested pellets mixed with liquid. She also pants a LOT. It’s very hot here - in the low 90’s lately- so I thought it might all be heat-related, but then a couple of times yesterday and today I noticed some liquid coming from her beak. I’ve done some research and am afraid she might have an impacted crop. Am planning to feel her crop first thing in the morning tomorrow. She’s eating and drinking fine (drinking a lot, actually), and seems energetic.
Any thoughts, other than checking her crop? She’s the sweetest of all our hens, so I am especially worried about her!

I would just check her crop and take it from there. Impacted crop normally isn’t deadly, but if left untreated it can kill.

 

[Rachela]

Does her breath smell like it’s going bad in her crop?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all- brand new chicken owner here. I have four 1-year-old hens that we just got one week ago. I noticed early on that one of them has frequent diarrhea- often it looks like straight up water, sometimes it’s mostly undigested pellets mixed with liquid. She also pants a LOT. It’s very hot here - in the low 90’s lately- so I thought it might all be heat-related, but then a couple of times yesterday and today I noticed some liquid coming from her beak. I’ve done some research and am afraid she might have an impacted crop. Am planning to feel her crop first thing in the morning tomorrow. She’s eating and drinking fine (drinking a lot, actually), and seems energetic.
Any thoughts, other than checking her crop? She’s the sweetest of all our hens, so I am especially worried about her!

Could be she's over drinking water, but checking the crop first thing for several mornings in a row is a very good idea - let us know what you find out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Do they have shade?
Is she laying eggs?

I would just check her crop and take it from there. Impacted crop normally isn’t deadly, but if left untreated it can kill.

LOL Which is it...not deadly or it can kill

posted edited to fix broken link to article

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Could be she's over drinking water, but checking the crop first thing for several mornings in a row is a very good idea - let us know what you find out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...lease-help.1396468/#lg=thread-1396468&slide=1

Do they have shade?
Is she laying eggs?

LOL Which is it...not deadly or it can kill

Both, depending on the severity and if they are treated. It normally isn’t, but in severe cases or if it doesn’t get treated it can and normally will kill the bird.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Both, depending on the severity and if they are treated. It normally isn’t, but in severe cases or if it doesn’t get treated it can and normally will kill the bird.

So what you are saying is that an impacted crop will kill a bird if left untreated, correct?

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

So what you are saying is that an impacted crop will kill a bird if left untreated, correct?

Yes, normally. There are rare cases where the condition goes away by its self, but normally the bird will die if it doesn’t get proper treatment.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, normally. There are rare cases where the condition goes away by its self, but normally the bird will die if it doesn’t get proper treatment.

Of course it will kill a bird if left untreated. It needs to be addressed a soon as possible. Even if only partially "blocked" it can lead to sour crop or infection, malnourishment, etc.

 

[Poppycocky]

I would just check her crop and take it from there. Impacted crop normally isn’t deadly, but if left untreated it can kill.

She looks like an Ameraucana, if that’s the one in your photo that you think may be ill. If so, I just want to say, I have two of them and they are the only ones I see suffering from this heat. They have been panting and drinking a lot of water. They also get very watery stool from the excess water. I went and bought some electrolytes and vitamins for their water. I also put extra water containers around the yard and try to keep them in the shade. My experience with Ameraucanas is that they are not very heat tolerant. I would make sure their nesting boxes and roosting area is well ventilated from the excess heat also. I had to add a small fan to my coop. I run it more during the day so at least it’s cooler when the go in to sleep. If you are still concerned about the crop, I’d say to be sure she has grit available to help her with digesting her food. I hope this helps.

 

[Megpz]

I checked her crop this morning and while it isn’t huge, I can feel a smallish golf ball sized lump, which is squishy. She doesn’t seem to be in distress when I poke it. Yesterday during the day it felt much larger and harder. I compared this morning to another chicken’s crop, which was completely flat. So I think maybe a partial impaction, possibly? No noticeable odor coming from her beak. I’m reading all kinds of things online, from completely isolating her and cutting off food and water for 12 hours, to olive oil and yogurt and forced regurgitation.

Also, regarding the heat stroke theory, she is an Ameraucauna and does not seem to tolerate the heat well and is drinking a LOT.I was blaming it on heat until I saw the liquid coming from her beak yesterday. That got me worried.

Here’s a photo of her this morning, panting, though it’s not hot yet.