Blocked crop - empyting technique

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Nick

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Hi All,
My super friendly little speckled has had a bit of a collapse overnight.
Found her on the floor, gasping, and with a full, spongey crop.
She was fine yesterday (laid a lovely egg), so I think this has literally just happened.
I poured a bit of oil down her beak (made her cough a bit) and massaged her crop - now feels nice and loose.
I tried to turn her upside down and squeeze the contents out thruogh her beak as per the FAQ, but got no more than a bit of a belch.
Questions:
1: Since this is day 1 - is it best for me to just monitor her and see if it passes - perhaps massaging periodically?
2: If I should really try harder to empty her crop - just how hard can I squeeze and is there a technique to it - plus if it doesn't empty easily does that mean something...
3: If I really have to ask question 2 - should I take her to a vet to do it!!!

Cheers all

Nick
 
Is there a smell from her beak, Nick? Sounds more like sour crop than impacted crop if its soft and spongy. Tis is caused by a Candida albicans infection, ie fungal. Treatment is probiotic yogurt (either Beryls if you believe in its claims, or good- quality natural probiotic such as Rachel's or Yeo Valley. Also ACV and garlic in the drinking water may help. If no progress over the weekend (its always at the weekend that these things happen, isn't it?) then maybe a vet visit on Monday.
See the article in Poultrykeeper if you haven't found it already http://poultrykeeper.com/digestive-system-problems/sour-crop
 
Thanks Marigold - my first thought after feeling her crop was sour crop - but her breath is sweet - even after the burp.
She is uninterested in eating anything - would I syringe the yogurt down her throat?
These flippin chickens!
 
Thanks for the link by the way - I'd read a few articles before I posted, but not this one.
From their description of a blocked crop feeling 'doughy' but with no smell, I'm pretty sure this is the diagnosis.
So massage the crop a few times a day with warm water or olive oil.
Still interested in how (or even if) I should try to force the goo out of her...
 
There is a YouTube video which shows how to do it in rather too graphic detail, but it sounds as if she isn't bringing much up so maybe this isn't the answer. I had always thought this was ow to do it, but I think that recently Tim or Foxy said that nowadays crop emptying is not considered a good method. Maybe one of them will come on and give advice. If there no smell then it sounds as if oil and massage would be better. If she's eating anything at all, you could add yogurt to a tempting soft warm mash with mealwrorms etc. otherwise, just get hold of her, open her beak and dribble it in from a small spoon? Maybe a 2- person job? You do need to be very careful not to let liquids go down the wrong way with hens as if she chokes on it, it can get into the bronchial tubes which are not the same as in mammals and anything accidentally introduced can cause infection and problems.
 
Well, the crop now no longer feels doughy - more spongy.
She is able to walk a a bit better - albeit primarily to escape her syringe wielding tormentor..
Fingers crossed
 
Well, what a stressful weekend.
On Friday, when all this started, she spent the day lying down, panting, and had this horribly full, doughy crop. She did however manage to stagger into the nestbox and lay a lovely egg (one of her first at about 30 weeks!!)
Saturday, I thought all was well, she got up and seemed to be pottering around with the others, but I noticed that she wasn't eating anything. Even her beloved corn that she virtually attacks me for at bedtime (I have trained them that they get corn if they are good girls and come into their enclosure to be shut in for the night). I was really worried that I'd hurt her in my hamfisted attempts to drain her crop.
Sunday morning, crop was pretty much empty - good news, but she still seemed rather quiet, not eating.
Laid another egg in the afternoon
Then went crazy for corn in the evening - just like normal.
I wonder if it was all about her feeling odd starting to lay eggs... Having said that - it was definately not right on Friday, and she had a very flul crop first thing.
I'm none the wiser, but hopefully she is over it...
Why do these chickens wheedle their way into your affections - only to go all poorly on you at the drop of a hat!!
 
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