Swollen Crop!

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EggSlayer

EggSlayer

In the Brooder
5 Years
Jul 10, 2014
12
4
31
Madrid, Spain
Hello,

It´s been some days now, and I´m very worried because she´s been going to worse. The crop of my hen is becoming larger, and she is acting more sick. However, she can still run, and do her normal life. It´s just she acts sick sometimes, and she goes into that "behaviour" of lethargy. She will eat okay too, but her crop worsens. I read some posts here, and on few other places.

I decided to make her vomit. Massaged the crop, had her sideways, and slightly at an angle facing down. She let out quite a chunk, but still has a lot of water left in her crop. After her puking, she felt better, and more active. My chicken is free to roam at her will, and lays eggs everyday, and they´re perfectly fine and delicious (she eats lots of bugs). Her fecies are black lately. Besides that, she´s okay. Also her skin is warmer than normal. Fever? Ahh..

Any ideas on how to solve this, and have her recover? I want the best for her. I would greatly appreciate any help.
 
Sounds like sourcrop....something in the crop gets blocked or impacted and the contents putrify.

I have treated this with 100% success in the following way.....

1. Empty the crop....hold the chicken firmly under one arm whilst tipping it forward and straightening the neck out with the other. The fluid should drain out or 'vomit' up. Gentle squeezing of the crop may help. It is EXTREMELY important not to hold the chicken upside down for more than 5 to 10 seconds at a time or they may begin to aspirate the fluid.

2. Seperate the chicken from the flock and isolate it so you can restrict its food intake to.....a mixture of scrambled egg, natural yoghurt, a pinch of garlic and, if available, fresh, clean, LIVE fishing maggots. The maggots will actually begin to eat the putrifying mess inside the crop and help to break it down if there is any level of impaction. They do NOT eat healthy tissue so will not damage the crop.

3. Offer plenty of fresh, clean, slightly warm water with, if available, added vitamin drops or ACV.


Empty the crop at least three times per day. Feed the mixture immediately after emptying and offer frequently throughout the day....the more they eat, the better. If they have eaten some, leave at least an hour afterwards before emptying crop again to allow the mixture to do its job.

Keep up the above regime until the chicken stops producing fluid and the crop returns to normal function for at least 24 hours.

Sourcrop is often caused by the chicken eating grass that has been left to grow long.....it knots in the crop, causing a blockage. To prevent re-occurence, keep vegetation cut down in pen.
 
happyhens1972 said:
Sounds like sourcrop....something in the crop gets blocked or impacted and the contents putrify.

I have treated this with 100% success in the following way.....

1. Empty the crop....hold the chicken firmly under one arm whilst tipping it forward and straightening the neck out with the other. The fluid should drain out or 'vomit' up. Gentle squeezing of the crop may help. It is EXTREMELY important not to hold the chicken upside down for more than 5 to 10 seconds at a time or they may begin to aspirate the fluid.

2. Seperate the chicken from the flock and isolate it so you can restrict its food intake to.....a mixture of scrambled egg, natural yoghurt, a pinch of garlic and, if available, fresh, clean, LIVE fishing maggots. The maggots will actually begin to eat the putrifying mess inside the crop and help to break it down if there is any level of impaction. They do NOT eat healthy tissue so will not damage the crop.

3. Offer plenty of fresh, clean, slightly warm water with, if available, added vitamin drops or ACV.


Empty the crop at least three times per day. Feed the mixture immediately after emptying and offer frequently throughout the day....the more they eat, the better. If they have eaten some, leave at least an hour afterwards before emptying crop again to allow the mixture to do its job.

Keep up the above regime until the chicken stops producing fluid and the crop returns to normal function for at least 24 hours.

Sourcrop is often caused by the chicken eating grass that has been left to grow long.....it knots in the crop, causing a blockage. To prevent re-occurence, keep vegetation cut down in pen.
Click to expand...
I want to say a big thank you to you for posting this explanation as to how you deal with sour crop. I love it when fellow BYC members post replies in "plain English" .... just wanted to thank you again!
 
Thank you, both of you have directed me in the right way. I feel much more eased. I will notify how the chick goes.
big_smile.png
 
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Yesterday evening, I fed her a natural yoghurt in small dosis, left her water (24/h) for her to drink, and kept her in isolation. Only had her carefully puke once in a controlled manner. Soon after she felt much better and active, and she seemed to have some appetite. Today, she doesn´t look as inflated as she did yesterday before her "release". One can still notice a slight inflated crop compared to her usual.

Today, I fed her rice only, and later like yesterday, I will provide her with small dosis of yoghurt throughout the day. She has improved, but yet not recovered. Things do look better.
 
Last edited:
i hope she gets better! we've had two of our lovely hens die from this and it was really sad. thanks to everyone posting how to handle this situation; now i'll know what to do in the future.
 
I'm so glad to hear she is on the mend! I hope today sees her even more improved...kudos to you for being such a great chicken mama and taking such good care of her!
 

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