Mia Patel
A chicken's crop is a small pouch located on the middle right side of its breast, which stores food after it is swallowed. When a chicken's crop becomes blocked by food or indigestible foreign substances, it is known as an impacted crop. This condition can be fatal if left untreated, so it is important to be able to identify the signs. In the morning, before a chicken has eaten or drunk anything, its crop should be flat, empty, and difficult to distinguish. If the crop still feels full, hard, or squishy, the chicken likely has an impacted crop.
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What You'll Learn
The crop's location and typical size
The crop is located on the middle to the right side of a chicken's breast. It is an out-pocketing of the oesophagus, located just outside the body cavity in the neck region. The crop acts as a temporary storage pouch, where food is stored after it is swallowed, before moving into the stomach.
The crop is at varying stages of fullness throughout the day. It is usually full at the end of the day, as the birds go into roost. However, by the morning, the crop should be empty, and it will gradually increase in size as the chicken eats throughout the day. A healthy chicken's crop will be roughly the size of a small tangerine when full.
If the crop is still full first thing in the morning, the chicken likely has an impacted crop. In this case, the crop will feel hard, like a wild bird's fat ball, and the chicken's breast will bulge out.
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How to identify an impacted crop
To identify an impacted crop, it is important to first familiarise yourself with the location of the crop and its typical size and texture. The crop is located on the middle right side of a chicken's breast and is where the initial stages of digestion occur. The crop is usually full at the end of the day and empties completely overnight while the chicken sleeps.
To test for impaction, feel the crop first thing in the morning before the chicken has eaten or drunk anything. If the crop feels full or squishy in the morning, there is a problem. A healthy chicken's breast will look flat and smooth when the crop is empty, but a chicken with a crop impaction will have a breast that is rounded and bulging. The crop will feel hard, similar to a wild-bird fat ball, and the swelling will not go down overnight.
If you suspect your chicken has an impacted crop, it is important to monitor their droppings, quantity, and texture. A chicken that is producing droppings cannot have a totally blocked crop. If the crop has not reduced in size by the next morning, it is best to consult a vet, as surgery may be necessary to remove the blockage.
Some signs that indicate a chicken is experiencing crop impaction include lethargy and laboured breathing if the impaction starts to press against the windpipe. Additionally, sour crop can develop as a secondary condition to crop impaction, caused by the contents of the crop fermenting and leading to an overgrowth of Candida yeast.
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Potential causes of impacted crops
An impacted crop is a common problem for backyard chickens, particularly those that are free-range. This condition affects a chicken's crop, inhibiting it from functioning properly. It occurs when food becomes compacted in the crop, creating a blockage that prevents food from moving to the gizzard for digestion.
The following are some potential causes of impacted crops in chickens:
Overconsumption of fibrous foods
Chickens that eat long, tough grass or fibrous litter, such as straw or wood shavings, may develop an impacted crop. This is because these fibrous materials can bind with feed and create a blockage. It is important to prevent overconsumption of such fibrous foods and ensure chickens have access to grit to aid in breaking them down.
Gorging on feed
Allowing chickens sudden access to free-range or providing an abundance of feed after a period of withdrawal can lead to gorging. This rapid consumption of food can result in an impacted crop. It is recommended to prevent food gorging by ensuring chickens always have free-choice access to their feed.
Ingesting foreign objects
Chickens may ingest foreign objects, such as string or plastic, which can create a blockage in their crop and lead to impaction. It is crucial to avoid access to such objects and monitor the chicken's environment to prevent ingestion.
Underlying health issues
In some cases, an impacted crop may be a symptom of a more serious underlying health issue. For example, if the obstruction reaches the gizzard, it can be fatal. Additionally, underlying health issues can affect the chicken's overall bodily functions, impacting their ability to recover from crop impaction.
Transition to new food
When introducing new foods, especially those that are harder to digest, chickens may be at risk of developing an impacted crop. This is because their digestive system may not be accustomed to the new food type, leading to potential blockages.
It is important to note that impacted crops can be fatal if left untreated. Therefore, regular crop checks and monitoring of chicken behaviour are crucial to spot the issue early on.
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Treatment options for impacted crops
The first step in treating an impacted crop in chickens is to isolate the bird from food sources for 24 hours. However, it is important to continue providing fresh drinking water, as this can help break up the hard impaction. It is crucial to monitor the chicken during this period, as you want to prevent the condition from turning into sour crop, which occurs when the contents of the crop start to ferment.
The next step is to gently massage the crop to help break up the impaction. This can be done by mixing one tablespoon of vegetable oil or olive oil with lukewarm water and administering it to the chicken using a syringe or eyedropper. The crop should be massaged as often as possible throughout the day, ensuring that it is done in a circular and slightly upward motion to direct the contents toward the crop "drain".
If the crop still refuses to empty, a stool softener such as docusate sodium can be given. After 30 minutes, the crop should be massaged again. If the crop still does not empty, more oil can be added, and the massage can be repeated.
Once the impacted crop shows signs of improvement, the chicken can be offered easy-to-digest foods such as scrambled or hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, fermented feed, or soft, cooked vegetables. It is important to continue monitoring the chicken to ensure that the crop is completely emptying each night before reintroducing it back to the flock.
In some cases, the impaction may not clear up after several days of treatment, and veterinary intervention may be required. A poultry vet may need to manually clear the crop or perform surgery to remove the items impacting the crop. This procedure should only be done by a licensed veterinarian, as attempting it at home can be dangerous for the chicken.
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How to prevent impacted crops
Impacted crop is a common emergency in chickens, which can lead to serious secondary problems and even death if left untreated. The condition occurs when there is a blockage in the chicken's digestive tract, preventing food from passing through. This blockage can be caused by a build-up of food or the ingestion of foreign objects such as long grass, feathers, plastic, or metal.
To prevent impacted crop in your chickens, there are several strategies you can implement:
Provide Fresh, Nutritionally Balanced Food
Feed your chickens good quality, nutritionally balanced food. While treats are fine, ensure that most of their nutrition comes from a balanced feed. Avoid feeding rotten or mouldy food, as this can lead to bacterial overgrowth and sour crop.
Monitor Food Intake
Chickens that gorge themselves on large quantities of grain in a short period are more susceptible to crop impaction. Therefore, it is important to ensure your chickens have access to grain in quantity all day long, rather than rationing portions.
Provide Access to Grit
Chickens need grit, such as gravel or small pieces of flint, to help grind up food in their gizzard. They will usually pick up gravel while foraging, but you can also provide a dish of grit or scatter handfuls in their run to ensure they have enough.
Probiotics
Probiotic yoghurt can help inoculate good bacteria in your chicken's digestive system, allowing them to outcompete bad bacteria. While chickens cannot digest dairy, the lactose in yoghurt breaks down without the need for digestive enzymes, making it generally safe for them to consume.
Keep Grass Short and Remove Hazards
Keep the grass in your chicken's enclosure mowed and remove any grass clippings, long pieces of plastic, strings, or other foreign objects that your chickens could ingest and cause a blockage.
Provide Plenty of Water
Always provide your chickens with fresh, clean water to drink. Dehydration can be a serious complication of impacted crop, so ensure your chickens stay well-hydrated.
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Frequently asked questions
The chicken's crop is located on the middle right side of its breast. To check for impaction, feel the crop first thing in the morning, before the chicken has eaten or drunk anything. If it feels full or hard, the chicken likely has an impacted crop.
A chicken's crop will feel swollen and full throughout the day. However, it should feel empty in the morning when the chicken comes out of the coop. A healthy crop will be roughly the size of a small tangerine when full.
Apart from a full and hard crop, a chicken with an impacted crop may also have labouring breath and act lethargic. Sour crop, a secondary condition, may also develop if the contents of the crop start to ferment.
First, isolate the chicken and do not provide food for 24 hours, but make sure it has access to fresh drinking water. You can also try massaging the crop with lukewarm water and vegetable oil. If the impaction does not clear up after several days, take the chicken to a poultry vet.
