Welsummers and sour crop

[Minniechickmama]

Last spring I got 7 pullets, 2 cockerels and a roo of Welsummers. I lost one of the cockerels on a cold night and he just wasn't ready for that, I guess. But then as I started letting them roam around when the weather got nicer, I had two pullets develop sour crop. I finally had to do surgery on one that eventually became impacted, but ended up losing both by mid-summer. Now, I have another Wellie hen who has it. What gives? Is this something common in Welsummers? I can't believe I have another one that has this problem. They free range and it seems that grass is the culprit. Anybody see this often in Welsummers?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I haven't had any issues with any of my chickens, including welsummers.

Maybe offer grit to them on the side to help crush the grass up in their crop?

 

[EweSheep]

No, not at all. Never an issue with mine.

Grits might help them along.

 

[Minniechickmama]

They have free choice grit, and there is gravel that is grit sized all over the place for them to have too. I am thinking they gorge themselves on grass once it grows enough to gobble up and it is just too much.