Crop Question

Her crop will be full at night if she has eaten throughout the day.

Her crop will be full of water if she has recently taken a drink, becasue even water doesn't pass straight through the crop.

As long as the crop is emptying overnight, I would really try to leave it alone.  It can actually be very easy to drown a hen by tipping it up to "empty" the crop.

Sorry another question?

In trying to entice her to eat, I have tried spaghetti, which she sort of tried but wasn't to bothered by, Special K, another old favourtie of hers but she is not not really bothered by. 

The only thing she seems to be keen on is grapes, but I am worried if I give her too many it could make her worse...am I over worrying or should I let her have them as its all she is eating at the moment?

New Shoot, I cannot thank you enough. 

I have tried her with some watery porridge this morning and was so pleased to see her eat more than I have seen her eat in the last 5 days!! 

I have put her back in her box for the time being to let her digest what she has had and will try her again a bit later, so as not to overload her.

I am hoping if I can get her eating again, she can build up some strength.   I am now convinced she ate too many berries which started her feeling ill in the first place.  Her crop isn't full in the morning, although to be fair she hasn't really eaten till now, but more than that she is still drinking and generally interested in life, with bright eyes.

Fingers crossed we can nurse her through this.

Thnk you again

Emma

I'm so glad to hear the porridge worked Emma    Little and often is best until she perks up a bit.

You are obviously lavishing lots of care on your little hen, so now she is eating something, hopefully she will come on in leaps and bounds 

Would she maybe like some corn or even some live mealworms to help boost her appetite. They are a very good source of protein as well.

Well she is back in the run with the others  

She still has a bit of a floppy comb and not back to full strength, but she didn't want to stay in the box anymore, which we took as a sign she was feeling better.

We are still keeping a close eye on her and we have had to pop her up on the bars to roost tonight as she was sleeping in the nest box.

The other 2 seemed to accept her back without too much of a fuss, however she is still keeping herself to herself more than usual.........We are hoping to get some new hens in the next few weeks when she is looking more like full strength so I guess she will then find her new place in the pecking order.

Thanks again for all the help offered

Emma