Softball sized Crop?

[peppercoon]

We are new members with 4 chickens we have had for one year now. We are also beekeepers and have noticed the chickens going after the dead bees, which can still sting. Over the past 3 months we have noticed a growing lump - now softball sized - hanging down her breast area. When she walks her claws scrape it causing her to stumble. What of earth? Are her days numbered?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://www.bing.com/search?q=pendulous+crop&form=OPRTSD&pc=OPER

That could be a pendulous crop (see search results from bing if needed)- sorry I have no experience with that.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, peppercoon, and

! Pleased to have you with us! Hope your chicken is okay - I've never even hear of that condition! Good luck to you and your hen!

 

[drumstick diva]

Oh my, it looks like a huge tumor

 

[Feathers n Fur]

I've never seen one that size. Could it be impacted crop? We just did surgery on one of ours yesterday with it but her lump was closer to tennis ball size.

Before surgery

After surgery

I'm thinking crop issue but I am no vet/vet tech just a chicken mama. Hope she is ok.

 

[peppercoon]

So after some research, we forced 1/2 cup of water and olive oil down her throat and massaged the crop for 1/2 hour. Based on advice, we held her upside down and strongly massaged her crop and she threw up about half the contents, including lots of stones and a stringy wad of snake guts. We have her on a milk and vitamin diet now and plan to massage her crop several times a day to allow food to enter her proventriculus/ventriculus for digestion. We hope that after a few days the crop will be almost empty and we can fit her with a crop bra - which she will likely have to wear for the rest of her life. Once the crop gets stretched out it never shrinks fully back.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

So after some research, we forced 1/2 cup of water and olive oil down her throat and massaged the crop for 1/2 hour. Based on advice, we held her upside down and strongly massaged her crop and she threw up about half the contents, including lots of stones and a stringy wad of snake guts. We have her on a milk and vitamin diet now and plan to massage her crop several times a day to allow food to enter her proventriculus/ventriculus for digestion. We hope that after a few days the crop will be almost empty and we can fit her with a crop bra - which she will likely have to wear for the rest of her life. Once the crop gets stretched out it never shrinks fully back.

Oh poor girl! It sounds like she swallowed some things that couldn't move through. I am so glad you have it sorted out with the cause of the problem at least.

 

[JacP]

Keep us posted! I want to hear how she does.
Is she eating?
What exactly is a croup bra??