Squishy crop

[paigeioli]

I notice that several of my chickens crop feels squishy, but it still empties at night and I haven’t noticed any other sick symptoms.

Is it ok for a crop to feel squishy as long as it’s clear in the morning and the bird is acting and eating normally? Is there any other diagnosis besides impacted or sour crop for a chicken with a squishy crop?

Thanks!

 

[dunnmom]

I thought squishy was a good thing, and swollen and hard was not, especially if they have stinky breath. My girls all have typically soft and squishy crops and I've never had a problem with their digestives. I stopped feeding them dry pellets and other hard foods besides BOSS with shells on last year, though.

 

[azygous]

As long as the crop is empty each morning, it really doesn't matter what it feels like as it will differ according to what the chicken eats. As a rule, the more water content the food has, the squishier it will feel.

A sour crop or an impacted crop isn't emptying overnight so it starts growing yeast in it, often with an unpleasant odor reminiscent of sauerkraut.