7 week old Barred Rock-Sour Crop

[thesimplelife6]

Hi all,
I've scoured this site for helpful tips at what I THOUGHT was an impacted crop. Turns out from what I read here, its a sour crop. She was fine when I let her out this morning, but noticed she was often not with her buddy hen as the day progressed. By the time it was time to bring them in to roost for the evening, I found her laying in the corner of my garden. She didn't resist or squeak when I picked her up like she usually does.
I brought her in and gave her water thinking maybe she forgot where her water container was. (They are not with my other flock of 38. Mom got broody, hatched 6, we hatched 4 in the incubator and mom refused the last two hatchlings). She seemed really thirsty. Then I noticed she just had no pep and fell asleep while i was carrying her to her cage. Usually she is not ready to go in and I have to hold her and her sister until they fall asleep and then transfer them in. I know, I know..spoiled.
Long story short..I noticed her crop was MUCH larger than her counterpart and very squishy. I massaged it, tried giving oil, ACV and water. Then read about vomitting her. The first bit of vomit was all liquid. Assuming it was the water I had given her earlier on when I thought she was dehydrated. I kept it up and finally got two big vomits of gritty, smelly stuff.
After that I let her sit and she immediately fell asleep. She is extremely lethargic. I gave her some ACV and water and have her back resting in my lap.
What should I expect in the morning? Should I vomit her again if her crop is still large and squishy? After the last vomit her crop was near empty. It seemed to enlarge a bit after the water. I just don't want to do something wrong and find her dead in the morning. These two are very special to me. Her mate would be terribly sad. She is screaming at the moment looking for her sister.
Thanks!

 

[seminolewind]

I don't think I would be vomiting her. If her crop is soft and squishy, what's the problem? Hold her feed at night and see if her crop is empty in the morning. Sour crop usually smells bad, and frequently is a sign of a blockage somewhere. Let her fill up on food and water, and see if her crop empties overnight.

 

[thesimplelife6]

She was extremely lethargic when I brought her in and her crop was three times the size of her sister (also the same age). It smelled bad. I've never seen her so lethargic.

 

[Michael Apple]

Impacted or sour crop is often a sign that something is going on in the gizzard or intestinal tract. Depending on how long the crop has been blocked determines how she'll recover. Birds that get too weak, don't drink or eat generally don't make it. ACV serves no purpose in this situation. Neither does oil. Food must be withheld for 24-48 hours. Let the bird drink vitamins-electrolytes-probiotics in the water only. Get Colace stool softener capsules (aka crop bound capsules) from the drug store. Give 2 capsules to the bird. If the bird isn't drinking on its own, use a syringe and feed it to the bird drop by drop if you have to, and get her to drink at least 5 cc of the water after eating the capsules. Check the crop each day and see if it starts to empty.

 

[thesimplelife6]

She IS drinking on her own. I will try the above and see how she does with it. Is that 2 capsules a day? 2 capsules at once?

 

[Michael Apple]

Two 50 mg softgels morning and evening. See what happens the first day and post the results here. Good luck.

 

[seminolewind]

Michael, I'll have to put your suggestions in my "save" folder. Great idea.

 

[thesimplelife6]

After hours of reading and talking to chicken enthusiast, it appears from many that it is coccidia. I started her on Corid. How long will it take to notice a difference? She really hasn't had any bloody poop, but she has all the other signs. I just want to be sure it is that. I have been syringe feeding her the Corid/water mixture. I'm assuming her crop won't store the Corid and it will secrete into the intestine? Should I try and syringe feed her some plain yogurt, too? She is very week and needs to eat.

 

[seminolewind]

They don't need bloody stool for coccidiosis. I hope he comes thru.

 

[thesimplelife6]

Thanks! I hope she does, too. I've been a mess all day. SHe is no better, but no worse. She seems to be "hanging". I tried to give her a little wet chick feed (pasty) and also some plain yogurt. She didn't want it, but I managed to get a little in her. I have been trying to offer her the Corid mixture hourly. Is this too much? Should i keep it up through the night?