Pullet with crop issue?

[BLElford]

5mo old Brahma Pullet. Noticed her stretching her neck and opening mouth 2 days ago. No rasping sounds or indication of respiratory issues (I could be wrong). I’ve been gently massaging her crop. It wasn’t empty this morning. Couldn’t feel grit or feed, just a firm/squishy pouch.

Tonight I tried hand feeding her some pellet. She would snatch one and then just hold it in her mouth seemingly unable to get it down. I made her some mash with soft pellet and Greek yogurt. She ate voraciously. Immediately following I picked her up, her crop get like a ballon. I massaged and felt the air push out (burp). I massaged her for a while longer, offered her water and put her in the coop for the night.

Anything else I could or should be trying? We lost a hen a few days ago, her symptoms were just acting lethargic and isolating and then she died. Not sure if the two are connected.

Open to any and all suggestions on what it could be and what else I could try.

Thank you

 

[dawg53]

It sounds like your Brahma may have a slow or impacted crop. I prefer using a 10ml syringe without a needle and draw up 10ml olive oil.
I cradle the hen in one arm and use my fingers to pull down on her wattles and her mouth opens. Then I use my free hand to administer the syringe with olive oil. Administer only 1/4ml orally at a time and make sure you immediately release the wattles so she can swallow the olive oil, otherwise it might go down her windpipe and then there would be a big problem.
After you give her 2ml olive oil, gently massage her crop in a downward motion while also gently kneading it at the same time. Do this for a couple of minutes. You might feel the debris in her crop break up and move on downward towards the gizzard.
If you dont feel the contents in the crop breaking up and moving on, continue with the olive oil/syringe dosing 2ml, massaging/kneading the crop until the contents breaks up and moves on.
The most olive oil I've used at one time for an impacted crop is about 6ml of olive oil. Patience is key and take your time.

 

[BLElford]

It sounds like your Brahma may have a slow or impacted crop. I prefer using a 10ml syringe without a needle and draw up 10ml olive oil.
I cradle the hen in one arm and use my fingers to pull down on her wattles and her mouth opens. Then I use my free hand to administer the syringe with olive oil. Administer only 1/4ml orally at a time and make sure you immediately release the wattles so she can swallow the olive oil, otherwise it might go down her windpipe and then there would be a big problem.
After you give her 2ml olive oil, gently massage her crop in a downward motion while also gently kneading it at the same time. Do this for a couple of minutes. You might feel the debris in her crop break up and move on downward towards the gizzard.
If you dont feel the contents in the crop breaking up and moving on, continue with the olive oil/syringe dosing 2ml, massaging/kneading the crop until the contents breaks up and moves on.
The most olive oil I've used at one time for an impacted crop is about 6ml of olive oil. Patience is key and take your time.

Thanks so much for the advice. My hunch is definitely crop impaction although really not sure what she could have found in their run that would cause a problem.

Should I repeat the oil throughout the day? Or will it be obvious if it worked based on her behavior? She definitely wasn’t moving around very much but I assume that’s due to low energy if she hasn’t been eating.

Can I still offer her soft food tomorrow after I do the oil & massage or should she be left with only water for a bit?

 

[dawg53]

When you massage and knead her crop after giving her the olive oil, you'll actually feel the clog break up and the crop shrinks as the food/debris is passed on down her innards.
When that occurs, there is no need to repeat treatment.
It would be best to give her layer crumbles. Brahma's are chowhounds and can be gluttons. I have two of them myself.
You may want to portion the feed with your Brahma instead of 'free choice.' Just give her layer crumbles and see how she does, and hold off the goodies for now.

 

[BLElford]

When you massage and knead her crop after giving her the olive oil, you'll actually feel the clog break up and the crop shrinks as the food/debris is passed on down her innards.
When that occurs, there is no need to repeat treatment.
It would be best to give her layer crumbles. Brahma's are chowhounds and can be gluttons. I have two of them myself.
You may want to portion the feed with your Brahma instead of 'free choice.' Just give her layer crumbles and see how she does, and hold off the goodies for now.

Ok great. Here’s hoping this is the ticket. Appreciate your help!
Thank you

 

[dawg53]

Ok great. Here’s hoping this is the ticket. Appreciate your help!
Thank you

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[BLElford]

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Unfortunately I don’t think she is going to make it. I oil and massaged her yesterday morning, last night her crop was empty but she had isolated under the coop so I brought her inside, dried her off, did a little VetRX on her. She was having trouble keeping her eyes open and no energy to stand, so out of kindness I put her back in the coop, assuming she would fall asleep and die overnight.

Shockingly this morning she was up and out of the coop, scratching and eating. Crop felt empty, but within two hours she’s back to looking like she’s about to die. I massaged her a bit more, offered her soft foods but it’s not looking good. Holding her she keeps dropping her head/neck to the left. Is having trouble standing.

Chickens … sigh. I wish there was something else I could do.