4 week old with crop issues

[JewellFarm]

Well it's the fourth of July and I have my first issue with one of my BCM 4 week olds. My DS picked him up yesterday and some stuff came out of his mouth. He alerted me and I checked him. His crop felt full and squishy and looks like a very small water balloon. I put AVC in the water and put him back hoping that would possibly take care of it. Well I went out this afternoon to check on him and his crop still looks like a small water balloon. I tried to get something to come up, but it didn't. I put a little bit of oil down his throat hoping that will loob things up and get it moving. I have 10 in a pen so I can't at this time tell you anything about his poop. I guess I will go out later and get another brooder box and set up a little hospital, LOL. They always have fresh food and only the purina starter crumbles so I am kind of at a loss at to what has caused this. Anyone with anymore tried and true suggestions please let me know what else you think I can do. Oh he seems to be in good health otherwise. He is active, eyes look bright and clear and very active. I want to act now before it gets to a critical point. TIA

 

[jenni2142]

It is possible that he had just drank a lot, they are little piggies, and when he was picked up it put pressure on the crop. It happens and could be nothing. You should not attempt to empty the crop unless you are sure it needs it as it is so easy to do more harm than good. Check his crop first thing in the morning and it should be much smaller, or separate and check in a few hours. In a pinch the bathtub makes a good isolation spot. If there is no smell and he is acting fine I would just check that crop is emptying in the morning.

 

[JewellFarm]

If I didn't make myself clear in post number one, this is day two. The crop is still the same, therefore I tried to empty it in case this is sour crop.

 

[jenni2142]

if you touch the tip or side of the beak with drops of oil it will seep into the beak and they will swallow and you can massage. It is slow going though. Is there a bad smell? it may be more of an impaction and nothing is moving through but liquid will seep through slowly which is why it got firmer.

 

[threehorses]

OK, just to clarify things - you checked his crop again first thing in the morning? Or later in the day. Checking first thing in the morning (before he gets off his roost, or before offering more food or water after withdrawing last thing at night) will tell you exactly what contents of the crop aren't moving. I'd recommend doing that so you'll know how much crop content does or doesn't get moved. Very important.

Checking even an hour after they wake up gives unclear results.

If you're smelling sour crop, the entire crop must be emptied by your manually. There's a baking soda and water mixture that you can use to do it. Glenda recommends it, and the remaining baking soda in the crop will help to correct the problems. If you do that, don't use ACV on the same day. DO use probiotics starting now and continuing until the bird is well.

You know honestly birds are drinking a lot right now. If you pick them up, they will have water, food, etc in there. Their crops should go down at night and this must be verified first thing in the morning only because they'll hog down more water and food. Crop flushing and treatment is stressful and you don't want to do it unless you're absolutely sure that the bird has crop stasis.

In the mean time, the yogurt will help a healthy bird much less a sick one. The bacteria in yogurt help to give fungi (yeast) competition in the crop. Yeast/fungi without competition bloom and they will cause sour crop. It could be as simple as the stress of heat causing a bird to lose some beneficial bacteria, causing a lack of competition, ending up in a yeast infection and sour crop. So build up the beneficial bacteria again to treat a problem or eliminate a potential further problem if this is a static crop caused by something else.

Would you please let us know how things look doing that overnight fast test? I'm very interesting in being part of the team that helps you help this boy. He sounds like he gets a very good diet and care.

p.s. Animals know it's a holiday!

My gelding kicked the heck out of my mare yesterday and of course I found her after all places were closed. And of course today was the fourth. Thankfully my vet went to the clinic just for her. BUt I'm marking a calendar and putting it in the barn from now on! Every holiday will say "DON'T you DARE get sick!" on it.