Flossie is almost 18 months old. For the past several weeks she has been quite lethargic, sitting around all puffed up by herself, with her eyes closing. If you call her for food she perks up a bit and runs over, but is always last of the four to come and seems to be off with the fairies. I haven't been too worried as she did exactly the same thing this time last year and seemingly recovered, but she does seem to be getting worse. I have checked her over for everything external (lice, mites, injuries, etc etc) and she seems fine. I have just wormed them all which I thought might improve her, but no difference. The only thing that is a bit different is that there is a lot of white in her poo and it seemed a bit mucousy (sp. ? :? ) this morning. Yesterday she did a bit of a runny yellowy poo which on close inspection (can't quite believe life has come to this...) had undigested bits of corn in it and a whole grass seed head. Could she have a digestive/kidney problem? She is the least tame of my 3 girls and really doesn't like being picked up at all so I don't want to stress her too much by over-examining her. Last year I tried to give her some poultry tonic with a pipette and she stopped speaking to me for months. Any advice gratefully received as I feel a bit helpless.
puffed up pekin with white poo
- Thread starter elmdene
- Start date
chrismahon
Well-known member
White poo is urine with no solids. That would indicate unable to eat and it is most probably crop bound, so check her crop. I've spotted one today. Full crop packed hard first thing, when it should be empty. The remidy is cod liver or olive oil followed by a regular massage. Can take up to two weeks to clear though. It occurs this time of year as they eat their moulted feathers -check the run and you will only find the dirty or big ones as the others have been eaten. Trouble is they don't go through the system very well. Other alternatives are an internal infection causing a swelling and blockage, tumors or cysts, a blocked gizzard (curable by making her exercise for short periods and a fluid diet -had it twice, took over a month, but is usually terminal so worth the effort). If not crop bound I advise trip to poultry vet tomorrow.
Thanks Chris. I've just checked her crop and it does seem very full and solid for this time of day. Silly of me not to have noticed but she doesn't like being handled at all so I don't pick her up so much. Will try to get some olive oil down her now but I know it's going to be a struggle!
Well I managed to get some olive oil into Flossie yesterday afternoon and evening when she was a bit more subdued, but she wasn't having any of it this morning. I have been massaging her crop, which she seems to quite enjoy. It starts off quite hard but goes a bit more squishy with massaging. Do you think I am safe in assuming her problem is a compacted crop and it will clear with massaging or would you advise a trip to the vet? Her crop seems quite low down but may be normal. Also she is quite thin - is there anything else I should give her (vitamins or poultry tonic? assuming I can get it down her) in the meantime? I think she is still pooing so something is coming through. Also I just wormed them last week - does this mean all the flubenvet is still stuck in her crop and I need to do it again when her crop has cleared?!
chrismahon
Well-known member
Ours get thin by the time I notice the problem and all have responded to massaging within two weeks. Flubenvet may have washed through with drinking water; I wouldn't worry about that at the moment anyway. As always, if you want to be safe go to the vet. Your hen seems a bit low so hasn't got that much in reserve now but if the crop is going squidgy and she is more active it may be clearing. We pick ours up regularly now, whether they like it or not, and check them over so most stuff is picked up early so best chance of survival. We lost three in quick succession earlier in the year so are being more cautious.
Thanks for all the advice. Flossie's crop was still a bit hard but much smaller this morning - definitely seems to be clearing now and either because she has got used to it, or maybe she is too weak to get away, I can pick her up relatively easily; although the olive oil down the throat is still a struggle! I'm massaging it several times a day to soften it up, with or without the oil. She still sits all puffed up, but inbetween times runs about and seems to be eating 
17 . Now I guess I need to feed her up to get her strength back.
17 . Now I guess I need to feed her up to get her strength back.oh dear - she's still not well. Yesterday evening she just stayed all puffed up at the end of the garden whilst the others chased me for corn and this morning when I went to check at about 8.30 she was still like a little puffball in the coop whist the other 3 were having breakfast. Her crop was full so I have massaged it again - it's quite squidgy - you can make it into all sorts of shapes. I made a box up for her in the kitchen but she flew out of it (and it's quite high), so I thought maybe she's not that bad and have put her back in with the others. She had a bit of grit and some mash soaked in water so that's encouraging, but she's so skinny now and just sits all puffed up. Should I just carry on with massaging the crop and hope it clears - Chris you said up to 2 weeks sometimes? I feel very helpless - poor little thing.
foxy
Active member
I never use massage with an impacted crop, however that is just me, and as poultrykeepers we all do things a bit differently!
If I am sure a crop is impacted, it is incised immediately and the contents flushed. The crop is simply a holding area for food, but can be blocked by fibrous grass etc.Contrary to belief an impacted crop needn't be a huge tough ball but typically feels like a malleable lump in there. No food gets through apart from fluids and the hen will start to get very thin. If you are sure its impacted it might be a good idea to take to a vet who is experienced with poultry who will be happy to excise and flush for you.
If I am sure a crop is impacted, it is incised immediately and the contents flushed. The crop is simply a holding area for food, but can be blocked by fibrous grass etc.Contrary to belief an impacted crop needn't be a huge tough ball but typically feels like a malleable lump in there. No food gets through apart from fluids and the hen will start to get very thin. If you are sure its impacted it might be a good idea to take to a vet who is experienced with poultry who will be happy to excise and flush for you.
Well her crop is full every morning - it's not getting bigger and bigger (in fact yesterday morning it was much smaller) so I guess something is getting through, but definitely not emptying overnight. So yes - I guess it is impacted. Have phoned the vet this morning and am just waiting for a call back, so may ask them to incise then. Can't say I fancy doing it myself! I'm just a bit worried what the stress will do to her as she's the most timid one. Thanks for the advice.
Crops aren't necessarily empty in the morning, there may be leftovers from the night before. Depends a lot on time of year i.e. how long the night is.
I have about 200 chickens here, some free range & some not & I don't get any impacted crops. Get a sour crop very occasionally.
I have about 200 chickens here, some free range & some not & I don't get any impacted crops. Get a sour crop very occasionally.
Just an update on Flossie - she seemed much better in herself over the weekend - still a bit puffy and sitting by herself, especially in the late afternoon, but much perkier inbetween and eating well. Her poos seem normal now too. Her crop is still not emptying fully overnight - it was about the size of a large marble this morning whereas last night it was quite big. It was quite hard (so I think definitely impacted and not sour crop) so I gave it a bit of a massage and I guess will carry on with this treatment for the time being. The vet said she would not advise incising unless it was really big and suggested precautionary antibiotics in case it's infected, which I haven't done yet as I'm not sure it is and don't like using drugs on them unless I have to.
