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Help - chickens with swollen crops

3 replies

Blackpuddingbertha · 02/09/2012 20:13

Just been down to check on the chickens and noticed they all have swollen crops; they feel soft and fluid filled rather than hard. Five out of the six are affected, the only one who isn't is currently in a broody box. The only difference between them therefore is the greens I gave them the last couple of days (broody not had access to the greens but on same food otherwise). They had some bolted lettuce and fennel tops from the veg plot. I'm thinking maybe the fennel either doesn't agree with them or the fronds have caused a blockage.

At the moment they all seem bright and breezy and still eating but I'm a bit worried they'll all keel over tomorrow. If crops are still swollen tomorrow do I need to try and drain them? And does anyone know whether fennel is bad for chickens?

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Blackpuddingbertha · 03/09/2012 21:20

Updating - the ladies looked ok this morning but crops have come up again during today. Not quite so distended as yesterday though so I'm hoping whatever's caused it is calming down. They are all still chirpy and eating and drinking so I'm worrying less now.

But won't be feeding them any more fennel regardless of how much they enjoyed it Smile.

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25chickens · 12/09/2012 10:30

Their crops can get very full during the day and look huge. They digest the food overnight while they're roosting. If their crops look empty in the morning, no matter how full they look during the day, the chickens are fine.

Blackpuddingbertha · 12/09/2012 22:24

They definitely looked different from how they normally do at the end of the day, and they haven't looked the same since either! Maybe they just gorged themselves on the extra greens but I'm avoiding the fennel now just in case...

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