We have a Bloated Bird...

[WingnutinMI]

Went out to the shed today to find one 5 or 6 week old with swelled breasts. The bird appears "fine" and very uncomfortable...guess I would two if my breast was 3 times its normal size. What can cause this, but more importantly is there a cure?? We are new to this experience and any help could and would be greatly appreciated. I really do not want to put the bird down but

......Thanks

 

[kimntep]

Is it more swollen on one side or the other? Could it be a full or impacted crop? If it had just eaten a lot, the breast area would look bigger than usual. I hope it's nothing serious.

 

[WingnutinMI]

Yes more swollen on the right side. Her appetite appears normal...maybe that is the issue....If it is an impacted crop how would I "fix" this issue? She has been seperated for some time due to a tail plucking...not much variety in her diet....Thanks

 

[kimntep]

That's her crop. Has it gone down at all or is it always swollen? Can u show us a pic? For now, I'd try to get a little olive oil in her mouth to help lube everything up and give her a gentle massage to possibly help get things moving.

 

[WingnutinMI]

Picture of our baby with the swollen breast. Upon further review there is a sloshing noise if you wiggle her...really concerned, fed her some olive oil, took away the food. Hope the picture comes out.

 

[texaschickmom]

I'm also having impacted problems with one of my chicks. In fact, I've never seen so many crop "questions" on this forum before! It's an epidemic! I pulled mine out and put in isolation yesterday in a dog crate with nothering but water with ACV in it and trying to get olive oil down and massage the crop. You'll know more tomorrow when you check her. I hope it's gone...keep us posted. Good luck!

 

[kimntep]

That looks and sounds like "sour crop." The crop should not be squishy and sloshy. Do a search here and you'll find lots of help. Get it quick and she should be ok. Keep using the ACV, a tablespoon per gallon, and good luck!

 

[texaschickmom]

Just wondering how your chicken is doing today? Is her crop smaller? If so...any advice? I've got the same thing going on, Day 3 and still no better.

 

[WingnutinMI]

her crop is getting smaller but not at the speed I want

I have her just on water/vits/and acv at the moment as she is doing a fine job cleaning up the cage. The Misses moved her to a dog carrier earlier today just to get here to slow down. I have been doing the olive oil massage thing. She is squirting runny inconsistance poos so I am guessing she is starting to break...keeping my eyes on her more now that work is done for the week...

 

[texaschickmom]

Thanks for your response. I think I messed up yesterday by giving my chick a tiny bit of scrambled egg mixed with plain yogurt. This morning her crop is bigger than yesterday. So I guess I'll go back to water with ACV, a little olive oil and massaging the crop. I hope we can pull these chicks through this.