Chicken Crop Impaction
by Erin Snyder
Chicken crop impaction is a common occurrence in backyard flocks for various reasons. Learn to watch for the symptoms and how to treat an impacted crop.
Identifying the root of the problem and treating a crop impaction can be challenging, so prevention is your flock’s best defense against this potentially fatal health condition.
What’s a Crop Impaction?
A crop impaction, also called crop binding, is when a chicken’s crop (the holding sack at the base of the esophagus) is blocked by something stopping up the crop or by another problem farther along in the digestive tract. The blockage prevents food from entering the gizzard, which results in the chicken’s body being unable to digest the food.
How Do I Know if My Chicken’s Crop is Blocked?
The good news is that diagnosing a crop impaction in chickens is fairly easy. If you suspect that one or more of your flock members is suffering from an impacted crop, here’s how to tell:
After the chickens have eaten their fill for the night and fly up to the perch to roost, run your hand gently over each chicken’s chest area (on the right side of the breast). The crop should feel firm like a softball and have substance to it. The size of the crop may vary due to breed, age, whether or not the chicken is laying, etc.
In the morning, check again. A healthy chicken’s crop should completely empty overnight and feel flat again in the morning. If the crop hasn’t emptied, chances are you have a crop impaction on your hands and it’s time to take action. Before taking action, it’s helpful to know why the blockage occurred in the first place.
Foreign Objects
Foreign objects are frequently the cause of a crop impaction. Consuming long grasses, bedding (i.e., wood shavings, sand, hay, etc.) baling, twine, feathers, string, and metal objects such as staples, wire, or even a penny can lead to crop problems.
Secondary Problem
Crop impactions can be a symptom of a secondary problem such as a tumor or cancer somewhere in the body. These masses can push the intestines, compact the stomach, and wreak havoc throughout a chicken’s body. A radiograph (x-ray) performed by a qualified veterinarian is the only way to rule out a tumor as the possible cause of the crop impaction.
Other conditions that cause crop impactions include:
- Heavy metal poisoning
- Internal parasites
- Marek’s disease
- Prolonged use or overuse of antibiotics
Impacted Crop Symptoms
Symptoms of crop impactions in chickens vary depending on the individual. Some may act quite sick, while others act only a little off. Common signs to look for include:
- Crop not emptying (definite sign of crop impaction)
- Foul odor coming from mouth (sign of an impacted crop beginning to sour)
- Little to no droppings
- Lack of appetite
- Refusing to move
- Standing in penguin stance (head tucked in, tail bent severely toward ground)
- Pasted (messy) vent area
Fluid Build-Up
If the crop impaction is a secondary problem caused by a condition such as a tumor, fluid may begin to build up in the abdomen and other areas of the body. Always feel the abdomen of a chicken that’s suffering from an impacted crop to ensure that it isn’t filling up with fluid. If fluid is present, contact a veterinarian immediately.
Prevention
Prevention is key to avoiding a crop impaction. Keeping a tidy coop and run are the first steps to help prevent your flock from consuming foreign objects and long grasses.
Avoid feeding chickens harmful treats such as long grasses, grass clippings, and large quantities of tomatoes. Don’t allow chickens to roam through long grasses and be mindful when they scratch through the compost, as both activities may result in chickens consuming hazardous materials — leading to a crop impaction.
Feeding chickens a healthy, well-balanced feed, supplemented with grit, probiotics, prebiotics, and herbs, will help keep your flock’s immune and digestive systems healthy and prevent a crop impaction from occurring.
Impacted Crop Treatment
Treating a crop problem at home may be possible, depending on the situation and why the hen became stopped up in the first place.
To treat a hen with an impacted crop, start by isolating her from the rest of the flock or, even better, with her best chicken friend, in a small area where they can still see the other flock members, but can’t be bullied.
Provide the sick hen with fresh water mixed with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with the mother in it. The apple cider vinegar will encourage the hen to drink, which is crucial for moving the blockage along. Replace the water mixture with clean, fresh water after about 10 hours. Encourage the sick hen to drink by placing dried black soldier fly larvae in the water fount dish.
Feed soft foods such as layer feed moistened to a mash. It’s important to feed only soft, easy-to-digest food, to avoid further complications. Limit feeding times to 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a day.
Shortly before feeding your hen, massage her crop softly, moving in the direction of the abdomen. Do this 2 to 3 times daily to encourage the crop to empty and start working again. Feel the crop before each feeding to see if it’s emptied.
When to Call a Vet
If a crop impaction doesn’t clear up in 48 hours, if the sick hen suddenly takes a turn for the worse and stops eating entirely, or if the abdomen is filling with fluid, it’s time to call in a professional.
Be aware that most vets may not be able to see your chicken the same day you call, so don’t hesitate to make the call sooner, if you think it’s necessary. This is especially critical when fluid in the abdomen is present, because the fluid may continue to spread throughout the body, eventually filling the lungs and causing the hen to suffocate.
Never attempt to remove a crop impaction by doing home surgery. If a vet isn’t a possibility, the best option is to humanely dispatch the bird.
Avoid Crop Problems
With proper care and nutrition, crop impactions can often be avoided. However, knowing the symptoms, prevention tips, and how to diagnose and treat this condition is critical when dealing with crop problems.
Resources
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/common-crop-issues-backyard-chickens-ebr-60/
www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/crop-disorders-of-chickens-ii ingluvitis
https://grubblyfarms.com/blogs/the-flyer/crop-impaction-in-chickens-causes-treatment
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/impacted-crop
Erin Snyder and her family have raised chickens and ducks for nearly two decades. She is passionate about all things poultry, but is especially interested in poultry nutrition, predator protection, egg-laying disorders, and helping chickens live their best lives well into their golden years. You can follow her chicken adventures on her newly hatched Instagram page.
