crop problems

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I have 6 chickens that have all had an impacted crop, i was advised to starve them for 24 hours, then syringe olive oil down their throats and massage the crop. I did this and continued for 3 days, feeding very watery layers mash with live yoghurt after the first 24hrs. In the mornings the crop is flat but after feeding it becomes big and feels like it is full of liquid not a hard mass like before. I'm not sure what is normal as never took any notice before this problem. The chickens still seem to be recovering from their moult and the crop is very visable due to lack of feathers. Can anyone advise
 
Crops are not always hard/solid when filled with food. Often things like pellets start to mush up in the crop as it gets mixed with water and other things. If you are feeding them watery feed then its to be expected their crops will be softer to the touch.

If your birds have impacted crop you would be noticing the crop feeling hot to the touch and they would be swollen still first thing in the morning as nothing would have digested. If they are full upon going to bed and flat in the morning then sounds to me that everything is working as it should be in the crop department.

Also its *very* unusual to have so many birds suffering it at the same time. It usually only affects one bird, occasionally two in a flock. I've never had more than one at a time suffer it. What made you think your birds are suffering from impacted crop?
 
Hi Snifter, Thanks for the reply. I think i may have been over reacting. One of the chicken has definately had a crop problem but i think the others just scared me. They have lost some feathers on their chest making the crop more visable, not noticed it before. I got them in may 2009 and am still learning i suppose, didn't want to be responsable for any suffering or death. After reading i think i was feeding too much corn 50-50 with pellets.
 
Hi Susie,when it is really cold and frosty,they do need more corn,as it does help them to generate more body warmth.I doubled the amount of corn that mine have in the last cold spell.Give them their pellets in the morning,and corn in the afternoon,that way it will have all cleared out of their crops by the following morning.
 
Crops can be quite noticeable so its not unusual you spotted them standing out. They can be far more visable during a moult as feathers thin out. I'd say what you were seeing in them is normal and try to not worry overly.

If you want to check them before the roost and again in the morning you should feel a definate difference in crop fullness. It will have emptied and been digested overnight. Sometimes the crop can still feel a bit squishy and not fully flat so to speak in the morning. It doesn't mean there is a problem. Its when it remains full and whatever in there obviously has remained.

Impacted crop is often caused by long pieces of grass which form into a ball in the crop and therefore cannot be digested. Its always good to a) keep any grass the birds are feeding from a decent length so they can pull the tips off rather than longer bits b) check the crop for hotness and allow at least an overnight period to elapse before starting treatment as that is a good way to diagnose impaction next morning. You can also check the birds breath but this is usually smelly when sour crop occurs.

Also be aware that when syringing down any fluids to a birds crop that you take care not to syringe down the wind pipe as this can cause real damage. Often many people seem unaware that they need to look out for the birds windpipe and just stick the syringe in and squirt the liquid down the back of the throat. I've dealt with a fair few birds with crop problems and my vet instructed me on how to tube a chook and also syringe fluids safely and then drain a crop.
 
Would agree with Snifter. It is highly unlikely more than one bird would become impacted at the same time

The crop can feel quite big when full - it is designed to hold / store food, a bit like our stomach would but if they are eating normally and crops are empty by the morning, everthing should be normal.
 
thanks for all replies,my chickens are all doing well the one who did have impacted crop looks a bit sorry for herself, could do with some weight on. They havn't layed for a few days but i not surprised as i starved them then cut their food down.
 
No problem. Starving them will stop them laying for sure. That's the way they used to force chickens to stop laying and into a moult commercially before it was banned in the UK.

Good Luck.

Tim
 
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