1st time chicken owner/coop and run builder

[aart]

Sour crop? What does that mean?

Long tough, pieces of grass clippings, or straw, can clog the crop(impacted) so it can't empty into the rest of the digestive system.... then the impacted crop can go 'sour' with yeast growth.

 

[RW1984]

Long tough, pieces of grass clippings, or straw, can clog the crop(impacted) so it can't empty into the rest of the digestive system.... then the impacted crop can go 'sour' with yeast growth.

So does that mean they shouldn’t free range and eat grass? Or is that different?

 

[aart]

So does that mean they shouldn’t free range and eat grass? Or is that different?

It's more likely to happen when someone dumps a load of grass clipping in a run where the birds don't free range.

When ranging they will most likely just nip off tips of grass...along with other vegetation and BUGS!!

 

[3KillerBs]

Hello from about an hour to the west.

There are few things chickens would love more than a big pile of pine straw to dig in.

I agree about more clutter and shade structure in the coop. Maybe something like a patio umbrella mounted on your perch tree?

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Long tough, pieces of grass clippings, or straw, can clog the crop(impacted) so it can't empty into the rest of the digestive system.... then the impacted crop can go 'sour' with yeast growth.

This. ^