[Ice]

My top hen has a very swolen crop.  I've given her some olive oil and tried to massage the crop.  Unfortunately there seems to be a hard lump which is attached rather than moves when I massage her.  Could this be a tumour?

She was fine yesterday and even laid an egg.  Today she has gone downhill fast and is almost lifeless.  I know what the answer will be and that she has to be culled.  It's so hard to do though. 

[joyfull]

Hi Ice, without seeing your hen it's not possible to be completely sure. If it is an impacted crop could you get her some live maggots for her to swallow? these will unblock the blockage - although you may have to repeat this over a few days. Have they been out in your garden or have you been putting grass in their run for them? If it is either of these make sure the cuttings or your lawn is kept short. Hopefully you can find a fishing tackle shop or a local fisherman for those maggots soon xx

[Ice]

No grass cuttings, not been in garden.  I would have expected the crop to move more freely than it does.  There is a very hard lump in there which seems attached to her.

No fishing tackle places open on a sunday and tomorrow is a bank holiday.  I doubt she will survive beyond today.

[Maccbean]

I'm sorry to hear about your girl. Perhaps she has swallowed something?   If you think she won't last the day, it might be worth you operating on her if you're not too squeamish.  I did this on one of my girls last October and removed the contents of an impacted crop when she was close to death (tried oil and maggots and removed about 150 dead maggots when we removed the bulk).  She recovered just fine.  Let me know if you'd like further instructions.

[Ice]

She's barely breathing now so I don't think she would survive an operation.  The kindest thing to do is dispatch her.   My brother is on his way.

Really going to miss her, she was a right madam.

[Maccbean]

What a shame. 

[Jeanette]

So sorry

[TeaPots]

when your brother comes and does the deed, it would be worth getting him to open her crop. Keeping chickens is all about learning to care for them too, and if you find a blockage of something in particular, u can stop it happening to your other girls, if it looks like a tumour, attached, you then will know what a tumour feels like etc. Its a hard way to learn, but may help you in the future.
I'm so sorry, but I'm sure she had a good life with you.

[Manlea1]

ohh bless ya  fingers crossed here that she pulls thru 

Lee

[Ice]

She's gone.  The thought of cutting her open doesn't seem right just now.  I'll do it tomorrow as I desperately want to know if there was anything avoidable that contributed to her death.

Can't believe how upset I am.

[Manlea1]

Wouldnt be human if you didnt feel anything  pets or live stock they still have us wrapped round there fingers 
Big Hugs from me xxxx

Lee

[joyfull]

huge hugs Ice xxx

[TeaPots]

they become part of the family dont they. I am thinking of you, hugs

[Ice]

I'll miss her jumping up at the window looking for me (constantly).  Used to tell her off and say that it would make her drumsticks all tough with all that exercise.

[Aunt Sally]

Can't believe how upset I am.

We all know how you feel Ice