I need some advice on sour crop, PLEASE

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Rocky Top Chick

Rocky Top Chick

Songster
10 Years
Feb 2, 2009
471
5
131
North Carolina
My black sex link started acting funny last night. Everyone else was roosting and she stayed in the corner on the floor. My husband massaged her crop and then placed her on the roost and all seemed okay. This am I noticed that she was again on the floor in the corner. My DH massaged her crop, turned her upsidedown and some milky watery stuff came out. Went I got home from work tonight she was still in the corner and I brought her in the house, placed her in the bathtub, gave her ACV water (which she would not drink) so then I gave her some yogurt and she ate just a spot of that. What can I do????? I am worried about her and I don't want anything to happen. BTY her crop feels like a mushy ball, not hard. (DH did confess that he feeds the girls apples during the day. Do you think a peel could be stuck. Thanks for any help.
 
Just make sure you don't feed them apple seeds.
How old is she?
I would keep her separated in a crate, so you can control her eating and watch her stools.
I probably wouldn't feed her anything for a day or 2. I probably wouldn't even let her have too much water.
Keep massaging her crop gently throughout the day.
Sometimes their GI tracts just get out of whack and they need to rest them for awhile.

Do you feed your chickens scratch? I have discovered that scratch is horrible in causing crop problems, so I have quit, except for black oil sunflower seeds.
See how she is a day or 2 after not feeding her, then start back with something like a little yogurt mixed with cooked oatmeal. I find olive oil rather medicinal, and would probably (in a few days) offer her little pieces of bread soaked in olive oil.

Keep us posted.
 
Country4ever, Thanks, I just checked on her and she hasn't moved, but she doesn't seem in distress. I did give her some yogurt but she only took a small amount. BTY she is 16 weeks. Hopefully, she will feel better in the am. Confession right now from DH, he gave them the core of the apple ! What now!
 
Apple seeds contain cyanide but not tons of it. Just don't make it a habit of giving them the seeds, they would have to eat a lot but why give them any. It is not the apple causing the problems.
 
First, you might want to explain to your husband that birds have to have grit in their systems to digest anything solid. So they shouldn't have apples. But they can have applesauce.

Right now, actually, applesauce (or apple meat put in the blender) would be a benefit if and only if it's completely pureed. The pectin will nourish good bacteria in the system and help cleanse the crop. But not much, please.

The majority of her food needs to be her pellets or crumbles. If she won't eat them straight, wet them. The yogurt is a keeper-continue to do that. You can also feed her boiled/mashed egg yolks (freeze what you don't use so your husband can spoil her while you're out) for rich nutrition. Mix the mashed egg yolk with a little water so it can easily dissolve.

Honestly, you can probably pick up any chicken upside down and get some stuff out of them like that. My concern is WHY she might have a static crop.

You'll want to pick her up and thoroughly and gently examine her. Check particularly for parasites against her skin, on her feather shafts, around her vent. Make sure there's no white or black waxy stuff on her vent and that it's clean and not terribly red.

That will rule out parasites which can cause a bird to be anemic.

Also, consider where she is and the heat. Some birds will go down in the summer heat. It's possible she could have had heat issues.

Check her weight - could it be possible that she's underweight because of being low on the pecking order? Is she able to walk normally or is she weak?

Remove her food at night and then check her crop first thing in the morning before replacing the food. A crop can feel mushy if it's filled with food, and birds are drinking a lot now because of the heat. But it should be mostly empty in the morning - not filled with mush.

In the morning before eating if it's still filled, then there's an issue. Especially if that continues for two days.

As for the acv water, are you using organic? You should be - regular ACV doesn't have the same effect other than pH. Organic still contains bacteria and its enzymatic action will help dissolve foods that are still in the system undigested. The bacteria will also help prevent a secondary fungal (yeast) infection from the statis of the crop.

let's hear how she is in the morning, particularly if the crop is empty, and go from there, yes?
 
Threehorses,

Thank you for all the information. I read to DH and he just looked at me and said "Oops". He will do much better. I am going to check on her now and then go to bed. I will let you know in the am how she is. Again, thanks for the advice.

D.
 
Well you'll have to just give him a big ol' hug for spoiling your chickens. That's really adorable.
smile.png


Have a good rest, and we'll see you here tomorrow. And you're very welcome; that's what we're all here for - to help.
smile.png
 
She isn't any better this am. Had watery poo. I am fixing her an egg mixed with yogurt. Is there anything else I can do? Crop still feels mushy. Actually not so mushy as filled with water. She did eat a little of her food mixed with yogurt. Just watery poo, but does have the white in it also. No worms or anything I can see. I bet she figured out what to do to make herself look sick so that she could come in the house and stay cool. I am in NC and it has been hot here, but the chickens can go under their house during the day to stay cool. I will continue to watch her.
 
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I'mnewtothis I'm having the same problems I think. Yesterday my hen with 4 chicklings (2-4 weeks) is solitary and standing not sitting at all. She is letting her chicks free range on there own and has a very soft, almost seems air filled or ballooned crop. Let us know how ur treatments workout cuz I could definitely use some advice.
 
fivelittlechick,

I will keep everyone informed. When I got day old chicks I knew they may get sick, but after reading the forum emergencies I am scared about a lot of things now. I will die if when they start laying they are egg bound. Just thinking about it freaks me out. Oh well, I guess I will find the strength to help them when the time comes. All I can do with my black sex link is keep trying to get her to eat the good stuff..................................
 

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