Anyone had success with a crop bra?

[OwO]

Got an ~8 year old hen whose crop hasn't been emptying properly for about a week... She's eating well but I have to empty it a lot because I don't want her getting sour crop

Ordered a crop bra since her crop feels pendulous and vet says it might be crop stasis. Has anyone had luck with using a crop bra before??

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is the crop pendulous?
Photos?

You may want to treat like Sour Crop even if you don't detect and odor. Work on getting the crop to empty first. You may still need the bra, but you even with that, you need to treat the crop.

Keep in mind that crop issues are usually a symptom due to an underlying condition. Reproductive disorders, worms, infection, etc. are a few causes.
With her being older it may be that the crop has lost it's elasticity as well.

First link is how Carol made a bra, her observations on making adjustments, treatment and function.
Second link is Carol's article of treating crop symptoms.
Both are well worth the read. Hope these help!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-a-crop-bra-for-a-hen-with-pendulous-crop.1464848/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[OwO]

Is the crop pendulous?
Photos?

You may want to treat like Sour Crop even if you don't detect and odor. Work on getting the crop to empty first. You may still need the bra, but you even with that, you need to treat the crop.

Keep in mind that crop issues are usually a symptom due to an underlying condition. Reproductive disorders, worms, infection, etc. are a few causes.
With her being older it may be that the crop has lost it's elasticity as well.

First link is how Carol made a bra, her observations on making adjustments, treatment and function.
Second link is Carol's article of treating crop symptoms.
Both are well worth the read. Hope these help!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-a-crop-bra-for-a-hen-with-pendulous-crop.1464848/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Thank you! She's had a couple vet visits and they said pretty much the same thing, yes the crop seems pendulous. I've been treating like sour crop by separating her with Apple Cider Vinegar water and been mixing Kefir in with her medicine.

Unfortunately still having to carefully make her throw up stuff from her crop most days she did lay an egg today which I was happy to see, and she hasn't lost any weight and is still eating well overall.

The crop bra arrived today and she hates wearing it, so I'm going to put it on her overnight and hope it makes a good difference. This is probably the last thing I try before I opt for surgery to see if anything is stuck in the crop and preventing things from moving. Do you think that would be a good idea?

As for the underlying condition, she does have some growths inside her neck which the vet wasn't able to diagnose, and she also has some sort of respiratory condition which she's on antibiotics for obviously a lot going on but I'm determined to let her live a normal life since she seems so strong still.

Edit: thanks, I also read that link on the crop conditions and they're was the mention of a gizzard blockage. I've read Epsom Salts are helpful for this, but I'll also see if I can get some molasses just in case I need it in future

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've been treating like sour crop by separating her with Apple Cider Vinegar water and been mixing Kefir in with her medicine.

As for the underlying condition, she does have some growths inside her neck which the vet wasn't able to diagnose, and she also has some sort of respiratory condition which she's on antibiotics for obviously a lot going on but I'm determined to let her live a normal life since she seems so strong still.

I wonder if she may have aspirated fluids at some point if there's some respiratory symptoms. Hens that have Ascites can also sound like they have respiratory symptoms too.
Not saying you caused her to aspirate at all! Chickens don't have a gag reflex, so when they have a fluid filled crop, bend over, etc. the contents can come back up and then they may get some of the food/water, etc. into the trachea which can cause symptoms.

Since she's on an antibiotic prescribed by the vet, I would continue with the kefir or even a little good quality plain yogurt. Antibiotics can make a sour crop worse.
Miconazole, Nystatin or Clotrimazole are commonly used anti-fungal/yeast medications given to treat sour crop. I have used both Clotrimazole and Miconazole so these are something to investigate further. Since you are working with a vet, you can likely get Nystatin.

A molasses or epsom salts flush can be used if you think there's a blockage. I would still work on treating the symptoms, see if you can get the crop to empty with diligence and meds, then if it's still not resolving, try one of the flushes. Make sure she's drinking plenty afterward since flushes can be dehydrating (causes loose stool too so be prepared!). But I would definitely try a flush before surgery is considered.

Did he by chance run a fecal float to see if there were any worms that needed to be addressed?

Hoping the bra is helpful and she's on the road to recovery!

 

[OwO]

I wonder if she may have aspirated fluids at some point if there's some respiratory symptoms. Hens that have Ascites can also sound like they have respiratory symptoms too.
Not saying you caused her to aspirate at all! Chickens don't have a gag reflex, so when they have a fluid filled crop, bend over, etc. the contents can come back up and then they may get some of the food/water, etc. into the trachea which can cause symptoms.

Since she's on an antibiotic prescribed by the vet, I would continue with the kefir or even a little good quality plain yogurt. Antibiotics can make a sour crop worse.
Miconazole, Nystatin or Clotrimazole are commonly used anti-fungal/yeast medications given to treat sour crop. I have used both Clotrimazole and Miconazole so these are something to investigate further. Since you are working with a vet, you can likely get Nystatin.

A molasses or epsom salts flush can be used if you think there's a blockage. I would still work on treating the symptoms, see if you can get the crop to empty with diligence and meds, then if it's still not resolving, try one of the flushes. Make sure she's drinking plenty afterward since flushes can be dehydrating (causes loose stool too so be prepared!). But I would definitely try a flush before surgery is considered.

Did he by chance run a fecal float to see if there were any worms that needed to be addressed?

Hoping the bra is helpful and she's on the road to recovery!

Thanks again for the reply! There were no tests for worms done but I am waiting for wormer pellets to arrive so I can cover all bases

She actually had this repository problem since late last year and has been on antibiotics since, but has only been having crop issues for the last week or so. The vet said they'd be able to take a sample from her feather pulp or something to test for underlying diseases, as well as perhaps the growth in her neck, if I decided to get her surgery for her crop.

As for antifungals, I have some Fluconazole at home which I guess will be my next course of action if I try to do an Epsom Salt or molasses flush to no avail. Then after that it's back to the vets again, they must think I'm a terrible chicken owner but they're just all old now and getting all sorts of problems

 

[OwO]

Quick update for anyone else who is wondering if it's worth getting, the crop bra is working very well! Been using it for a few nights and have noticed a huge difference so far. Her crop is almost empty every morning.

One thing I have learnt though, is not to keep it on all the time. When I kept it on throughout the day her crop began to feel doughy. My theory for this is that she has slow crop or crop stasis and it's pushing fluids through much faster than food, while she's still actively eating, causing doughy crop. Therefore I have only been putting it on her in the evening before she goes to bed, so plenty of fluids are already mixed in her crop.

I've still been giving her some Kefir to soften things up and hopefully promote good bacteria and plenty of movement!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the update and tips!
I hope she continues to improve.