We've got a soft crop and a feisty old hen who's suddenly forgetful, and our take is this: don't panic, but don't wait around either. This isn't sour crop, no smell means you've dodged that bullet, but a limp, squishy crop in an older bird is a signal that something's off, and it deserves your attention before it turns into a bigger headache. The good news is you're already ahead of the game by noticing the details: she's still eating, still bossing the little roo around, and that feistiness is a great sign she's got fight left in her. The forgetfulness and the soft crop, though? Those two clues together tell a story worth reading.
We've seen this before in our community, and it often comes down to a slow digestive system, common in aging hens, or a partial blockage that hasn't gone full sour yet. Start by isolating her overnight with only water, then check the crop first thing in the morning. If it's still soft and squishy on an empty stomach, you're likely dealing with a yeast issue or a motility problem, and a gentle crop massage with some olive oil can help move things along. If it's flat and empty by morning, she might just need a diet tweak, less scratch grains, more probiotics, and plenty of grit. Compare this to the mystery of missing feathers we covered in Feathered friends losing their floof: mystery or mitey mischief?, where the culprit turned out to be mites hiding in plain sight. Your hen's crop issue is less about external pests and more about internal plumbing, but the principle is the same: look for the subtle clues, not just the obvious ones.
This isn't a crisis yet, but it's a teachable moment. Your hen's forgetfulness, like not seeing things coming from different directions, might be unrelated to the crop, possibly just old age playing tricks on her eyes or brain. But it could also be tied to a nutritional deficiency from a sluggish crop that's not processing food efficiently. We'd suggest adding a splash of apple cider vinegar to her water for a few days (it's not a cure-all, but it can help balance crop pH) and offering her some scrambled egg for easy protein. And keep watching that feisty attitude, if she stops bossing the roo, that's your red flag to call a vet. Unlike the classroom chick in This adopted classroom chick has us clucking for a breed ID, whose mystery was all about genetics, your hen's mystery is about management. You've got the tools; now use them.
One concrete thing to watch for over the next 48 hours: the crop's texture at midnight. If it's still soft and full after a full day of fasting, you've got a motility problem that needs hands-on care. If it empties and firms up, you're probably looking at a simple diet fix. Either way, you're not chickening out, you're troubleshooting like a pro.