Sick Chicken

[esthermoir]

Hi I am concerned about our ex-battery hen who we have had for a year. She has turned out to be the best and biggest of the 8. Was tending another chicken who was mauled by a friends dog so have only just noticed that this one is unwell. Her crop was very large and seemed solid. Gave her a couple of spoons olive oil, massaged the crop and have turned her upside down but only dark fluid came out. I feel I have made things worse and she is now very lethargic. Her comb has been ruby red for a couple of days now. Anybody any suggestions?

 

[Marigold]

It ceraqtinly sounds like crop impaction, doesn't it? Has she been eating the past couple of days, and if so, what? If she's been free-ranging it's possibly she's got a crop blocked by long tough grass. What are her poos like? If she's not eating you might expect them to be runny. Have you tried giving her yogurt? Some people find this helps with crop impaction. Most important, is she able to drink anything?
I expect you're doing the best thing for her by massaging her crop and giving her olive oil, especially if some dark fluid did come out, and i don't expect you made things worse at all.

 

[VALBURNHAM]

sounds impacted to me. Try feeding her some live maggots they will eat through the impaction.

 

[chrismahon]

That's a great idea Val. I have just realised that since I started economising and not getting maggot treats for the hens a lot of our hens have crop problems and they are taking longer to feather up as well. Pint of whites tomorrow!
That reminds me of a stomach churning moment of a pheasant for dinner and mealworms, which I won't share.

 

[foxy]

That's a great idea Val. I have just realised that since I started economising and not getting maggot treats for the hens a lot of our hens have crop problems and they are taking longer to feather up as well. Pint of whites tomorrow!
That reminds me of a stomach churning moment of a pheasant for dinner and mealworms, which I won't share.

03 03

 

[jubilee]

That's a great idea Val. I have just realised that since I started economising and not getting maggot treats for the hens a lot of our hens have crop problems and they are taking longer to feather up as well. Pint of whites tomorrow!
That reminds me of a stomach churning moment of a pheasant for dinner and mealworms, which I won't share.

Ah, go on! :lol: It can't be as bad as the time my brother put his fishing maggots in the fridge, and they tipped out all over the sunday roast!! Mum was not a happy bunny! 03 03
All joking aside, maggots do work for impacted crops, much better than massaging with oil, very messy, and can cause the bird to cholk if you're not sure what you're doing. And 110% better than yoghurt!!

JubesXX

 

[esthermoir]

Hi
Thank you all very much for your help re compacted crop. What a difference she is today, her comb is almost same colour as the others again. I could not get maggots, apparently they dont sell them anymore in Scotland which is a pity. I gave her bio yogurt last night and the other chickens and few ducks got the remainder, they loved it and couldnt get enough. I will continue with that for a while. Esther xx

 

[chrismahon]

I slipped with the knife, split open the bulging crop and dozens of live mealworms spilled out all over the kitchen units and crawled away in all directions as fast as possible. I lost my appetite.

 

[jubilee]

I slipped with the knife, split open the bulging crop and dozens of live mealworms spilled out all over the kitchen units and crawled away in all directions as fast as possible. I lost my appetite.

EEEWWWW!!!! 03 That's just nasty!! 03

JubesXX :lol:

 

[beejud]

Hi esthermoir,
You can get live mealworms in Scotland. Having been following this thread I checked when in Pets at Home today and they get deliveries of live mealworms twice a week. Thought it would be useful to know of a source in case I ever have a sour crop situation. I would have thought fishing shops might be a source too and the wiggly wigglers website does them by post. Glad your wee hen is looking better now.