Slow emptying crop with x-ray picture

[Carin]

I have a partridge Brahma hen about 18 months old. She presented with a hard crop about golf ball size. No other problems and laying as usual. In the morning she still had the hard crop. It was a bit softer but not empty. I separated her two days and fed only water with a bit of epson salt and maas ( type of unflavoured yogurt) I massaged her crop and it went down and emptied after 2 days. Hoped that the problem was over and let her be with the other chickens. After a few days I noticed that we are back at square one. She had again a hard crop in the morning. I isolated her again and only fed maas and water with a bit of ACV. I also gave her 2.5 ml of olive oil. Two days later the crop is softer but not fixed. This is not sour crop as there is no foul smell.
This morning I took her to the vet. He cut open the crop and emptied it. He also took an x-ray. Normal crop contents and normal lining of the crop. Only thing I am not sure about is the amount of grit in her gizzard. I think that there is a lot of grit in her gizzard- more that what is "normal"?
My question: 1. Has anybody any idea of how much grit is usually in the gizzard?
2. Should I do anything more and if yes what?

X-ray of "Spikkels" - she laid that egg as soon as we got home

The next picture is of the contents of her crop





This is the one story. I am going to start another thread for the other hen's story as it seems as if I have two hens with two different crop problems at the same time

 

[subhanalah]

What ever came in of this? Did you find the cause?

 

[Carin]

Spikkels is alive and well and never had a problem again. She is the best broody ever and will take any chick as her own. She is in fact at the moment two weeks into sitting on her next clutch of eggs. She eats and drinks and do all a chicken is to do. Spikkels will lay for 4-6 weeks, get broody, sit her 3 weeks and look after her chicks for 6 weeks and start laying again. The previous time I had eggs in the incubator and 2 days before they were due to hatch she got broody. I think she could not believe her eyes when they started to hatch under her. She did her mother hen thing and is now sitting again.

 

[subhanalah]

That's fantastic! I'm so happy that Spikkles came out okay! Did they ever discover what it was that was causing her crop issues? I have a chick who keeps having a slow emptying crop and wondering if it's anything I'm doing. Was there anything in her crop contents out of the ordinary when they did the surgery?
I hope you post lots of pictures of her and her babies!

 

[Carin]

The picture shows her crop contents and no I never got to find out what the problem was. I did however decide that if it ever happens again I will give the olive oil and then for at least 3 days only maas and water. I will also massage her crop. I am very glad that she is doing well as she is a real star with eggs and motherhood

 

[kkangail08]

I have a hen with the exact same issue and i feel like in her xrays the vet took there is too much grit. She goes in friday to the vet to get it figured out

 

[Carin]

I really hope you get your hen and her crop issues sorted out. Old Spikkels is still doing well and has not had any crop issues again. She is however still my best broody ever. (Sometimes I think she is a silky in disguise)
The maas- type of unflavored yogurt is part of the treats that I give at least once a week