Pages collated by 
Jill Bowis of

started November 1999

IMPACTED CROP      - 

Care of ill birds : Isolate, fresh food and water, deep litter, peace and quiet till healing is complete

Q -I've had two hens die this week and one about a fortnight ago and I don't know why.  They just mope around for a day and then fall off their perch. I'm worried something is wrong that could affect the entire flock.  I have around 125 hens - all Lohmann Browns - on free range - well fed - not overcrowded - not pecking and bullying goes on - they're very happy.  They started the first moult about 10 days ago.
A-Some commercial hybrids are really not designed to go through the moult usually being destroyed at this stage. You have mentioned you have wet ground - it could be that their immune system is compromised in going into the moult and they have picked up a bug from the mucky ground (this might be contagious) Some birds will stop eating entirely when they go into moult and if they have been a little lean (probably your highest producers) before the moult they can literally starve themselves to death.
I would suggest you move them onto clean ground - and tonight check each bird for body condition and bring the thin ones into a byre or somewhere you can monitor their feeding more closely. A bit of shelter and coddling may help. If you have left your birds on the same ground all year - you may have a worm problem also - last year was so wet and horrid that there were an awful lot of bugs around. Get the vet to do a soil and faeces worm count to check - and a bug check too while he is at it.
Q -I went into the coop and found one of my 25 chickens were flat on the floor dead and dont know why? Could it be a heart attack because there was no visible reason why. All other chickens are in great health. 
A- I wouldn't call one death a trend.  If two die, then I'd be concerned. Ya know what?  Sometimes they just die.  Sheep do the same thing - spontaneously die.  You can do everything right - perfectly balanced
diet, fresh water on demand, piped in classical music, have a valet attend to each nesting box personally and the ingrates just up and die.
Q -Would like to find out if anyone has any idea why my hens are losing feather on their backs.  We thought it was a change in diet and the others were trying to add them to their diet.  Also considered they might be molting. It only happened to about 6. We changed diet back to the same feed.  They
quit pecking hineys but feathers are still falling from their backs.
A- Do you have a rooster?     If so, they can pull feathers when they mount a hen.
A - It could be moulting - birds are individuals and some you see moulting very obviously, other do it very discreeting so you hardly notice.
Q - My 9 month old Buff Orpington Rooster's comb has started to turn purple/black on the tips.  The only difference in his situation is the fact that it has dipped below freezing for the past week.  Does the weather do this?
A - In very cold winters I use vaseline to protect the comb. It works perfect.
A - That's called frostbite.  Make sure he has a draft-free place to snooze.
A - 
 
 
 
 
 

links
Kemps Koop online poultry supply store - medications
Kemps Koop online poultry supply store - health products