My chicken was sick in front of me!

[charlielavin]

That's not right is it? I've been spending time with my chickens to get to know them and vice versa! Then one of them was sort of sick in front of me. It was a clear liquid and then the hen pecked at it (not the cutest thing I've seen the chickens do so far!)

Any idea what's going on? She seems fine otherwise, she's been eating and drinking and has been enjoying exploring the garden.

Any help greatly appreciated


Charliex

 

[Tim]

Hi,

I haven't seen that happen before - however if you tip a chicken upside down after it has had a drink, it will come back out in this way... Food and water is initially held in the crop so it doesn't take much to come back up again!

My guess is rather than the chicken being 'sick' as such, it's perhaps been caused by the muscles in the crop contracting and some fluid has come back up.

I wouldn't be worried if she seems healthy.

Hope this helps...
Tim

 

[kelloggs]

She could have sour crop. Is her crop all squashy, spongy like? Does her breath smell ?

 

[charlielavin]

Hello

Thanks again for the replies, I just thought you might want an update. She seems fine this morning - eating, drinking, foraging. She had a bit of diarrhoea last night but that seems to have sorted its self out too. She is losing feathers all over the place though, but I am trying to check her for mites/lice on a regular basis.

Crop feels ok, maybe its possible she over indulged yesterday as it was her first day out of the run.


Can't thank you guys enough for replying to my posts - I can't wait til I am experienced enough to help other people out!

Kindest regards,

Charlotte