Help! Crop bound chicken

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Help! Crop bound chicken

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VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 15 7:50 am Post subject: Help! Crop bound chicken

Not dealt with this before and have read advice but no idea what to do when not working.

One of my hens, moulting at the moment, was eating very little and looking lethargic, with very watery poo. Someone on another forum said probably to do with moult and eating feathers and recommended mash, which I gave for a while though she wasn't very keen. Now she seems a bit more lively and has been eating more - BUT her crop seems very full and round all the time. I have checked for a few mornings and it is always still full.

I have given her olive oil and massaged the crop several times, but it is still full. I am struggling to get her beak open and to get olive oil in.

What else should I do? Should I take her to the vet? Should I keep her away from normal food like pellets and outside foraging? I have seen yoghurt suggested as another thing to soften whatever is blocking the crop - but I am panicking a bit as this has been going on for some days now - family issues have left me little time to deal with it as well as not knowing what I'm doing.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46244
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 15 11:25 am Post subject:
one of mine stuffed herself with an oily rag,it did not end happily. i would think olive would do no harm and might help but a blockage might be natural or un natural and unlikely to clear. sorry to be brutal but a visit to the vet will cost more than a new chook

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 15 1:05 pm Post subject:
On another thread Lorrainelovesplants suggested vinegar and then holding the chicken upside down. Followed by yoghurt. No personal experience to offer, sorry.

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 15 4:38 am Post subject:

yep - very messy - wear old clothes.
Squirt vinegar into open beak (a fair bit) (you'll need someone to hold bird whilst you do this). massage around crop, then hold bird so that head is lower than body and encourage liquid to flow from beak. If not repeat.
When you get said liquid...then stage 2
force some natural yogurt into birds mouth (again at least a tablespoon). massage around crop.
Go in change clothes and possibly wash hair....

Repeat next day if crop has not reduced.

And good luck!

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 15 9:00 am Post subject:
Thank you, Lorraine - had just been trying to find the thread Sean mentioned! Just have to go and break it to partner now that I need his help with this!

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 15 2:52 pm Post subject:
wear OLD clothes and be prepared for a bit of shouting at each other... Its not easy, but it has worked for me...

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat Oct 17, 15 6:22 am Post subject:

Lorrainelovesplants wrote:

wear OLD clothes and be prepared for a bit of shouting at each other...

Its not easy, but it has worked for me...

and thanks again.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46244
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 15 9:32 pm Post subject:
how is the chook? and how messy did that get ?

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 15 11:10 pm Post subject:

I have to confess that I have not yet had the confidence to do the chicken upside down thing. I have been giving her vinegar and yoghurt and massaging the crop and sometimes I think it is getting softer and smaller, but then it seems worse again. I have been away dealing with elderly mother issues today so not had time for anything but another dose of vinegar this morning and I have isolated her from other chickens and just leaving her some mash but no access to outside foraging.

It's been going on a while now so I'm not very optimistic - obviously is not going to resolve easily.

So tomorrow either will have to try and find time when partner can help with turning her upside down or will take her to vet. Although I'm not proposing to spend lots of money on her, I have taken a chicken to this vet before in order to get Flubenvet, and he was quite sensible and helpful.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46244
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 15 11:30 pm Post subject:
spurs crossed she will be ok ,to be honest i was expecting dead(but hoping for better)by now.

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Wed Nov 25, 15 8:35 pm Post subject:
Sometimes the hang upside thing can end in them getting liquid into their lungs and they die that way. We stick with massage and oil only these days. If you are able to get vinegar or other liquid in, suggest adding glucose to the mix for an energy boost for the chicken.

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