2 days ago I lost a few chickens. I noticed that several of them had puffy crops like water balloons. I was able to drain them and they had lots of cracked corn and fluid in there and it was smelly. I have put them on a diet of hard boiled eggs, olive oil, and Stoney field organic yogurt whirled around in my blender and a handful of grit added. I have them split into two groups. Chickens that didn't have large puffy crops and those that did. They are both on the same diet. The ones who's crops were puffy have "for the most part" empty crops in the mornings. They are eating a bit better--but still seem droopy and kinda depressed. The first two days they had baking soda in their water (i had read that the acid in the vinegar exasserbates the problem?) Today I gave them fresh water w brags vinegar. My Cochin still had a little puffiness this morning. She appears to be the worst. I had to give her a bath today because she is such a mess. Their poop is watery.
I have been unable to find a vet that has nystatin. And this morning I noticed that the hens are "flaking". It's snowing skin, or that plasticky coating at the bottom of their feathers. What is that about? I have looked for lice and don't see any...it's like some of them have dandruff.
Can anyone help. I'm hoping today we will turn the corner on this crop thing--but I'm getting discouraged.
They are only 4 months old and their pen is a closed coop with a little door that leads to small penned area on a cement slab...it's where we keep them, until they start laying and then we let them out. So I was negligent on providing enuff grit for them and the cracked corn bogged up in their crop. I've raised many flocks this way for several years, this is the first time I have ever experienced this problem. The dandruff is really a new one. Is that stres related, molting?.. Pls help.
I have been unable to find a vet that has nystatin. And this morning I noticed that the hens are "flaking". It's snowing skin, or that plasticky coating at the bottom of their feathers. What is that about? I have looked for lice and don't see any...it's like some of them have dandruff.
Can anyone help. I'm hoping today we will turn the corner on this crop thing--but I'm getting discouraged.
They are only 4 months old and their pen is a closed coop with a little door that leads to small penned area on a cement slab...it's where we keep them, until they start laying and then we let them out. So I was negligent on providing enuff grit for them and the cracked corn bogged up in their crop. I've raised many flocks this way for several years, this is the first time I have ever experienced this problem. The dandruff is really a new one. Is that stres related, molting?.. Pls help.
