At my wits end with this crop situation!

[BigBlueHen53]

she passed an egg!
Hopefully the crop situation resolves now. Keep posting!

 

[MamaPoult]

she passed an egg!
Hopefully the crop situatiin resolves now. Keep posting!

Yes! I'm so relieved!!! Yes I am hopeful! Will do, thank you

 

[MamaPoult]

Hi everyone. Sadly I'm back for more advice. After she passed the egg she started pooping and eating normally. Her crop was still a bit enlarged but I wanted to give it time thinking the main problem was solved. At quickly as she seemed to be better she suddenly declined. This morning she's completely fluffed out and won't move. She's pooping fine (I noticed some stuck to her rear feathers this morning) but wont touch the food or water. I brought her inside for a quick second to see if she'd eat some egg yolk but she refused. Her crop is very full and has a doughy texture except for the very bottom which has some sand. I don't know what to do! Maybe give her more anti-yeast stuff?? She wouldn't take the cream (she usually loves it) but I do have tablets... any advice is appreciated I don't know how long she has like this. Thank you all

 

[azygous]

You know when you have a slow drain in your home, you dump some drain cleaner down it. If that won't improve flow, then you call a plumber because it's obvious there's a bigger problem than what drain cleaner can solve.

It's the same with a crop disorder. Something else is going on besides a slow crop when miconazole doesn't work. The obstruction could be worms, or a tumor, or it could be the way the crop is carried too low to drain normally. The best thing to do is to find a vet to do some imaging to see what's going on.

You can try a crop bra to see if that helps. Or you can do an Epsom salt flush and see if it's just a matter of getting the digestive system cleaned out. But often it's cancer and no amount of treatment will fix that.

 

[MamaPoult]

You know when you have a slow drain in your home, you dump some drain cleaner down it. If that won't improve flow, then you call a plumber because it's obvious there's a bigger problem than what drain cleaner can solve.

It's the same with a crop disorder. Something else is going on besides a slow crop when miconazole doesn't work. The obstruction could be worms, or a tumor, or it could be the way the crop is carried too low to drain normally. The best thing to do is to find a vet to do some imaging to see what's going on.

You can try a crop bra to see if that helps. Or you can do an Epsom salt flush and see if it's just a matter of getting the digestive system cleaned out. But often it's cancer and no amount of treatment will fix that.

Yeah.....I'm starting to lean that way too. I really appreciate all of your and everyone else's help though. I do not have any crop bras but I could try to source one. I'm concerned because we're going to get really cold after tomorrow and I feel bad because she's already miserable without the negative temperatures. I sadly do not have a avian veterinarian here since I live remote, so that isn't an option. Do you think I should consider putting her down? I don't want her to suffer any more than she already has and she's just so weak. Thank you so much for the help!

 

[azygous]

Have you done the Epsom flush? I can't recall and don't have time to run back through your thread.

I would try the flush and see how she is after. If she continues to go downhill after trying the flush and the bra, then euthanasia is what I would do.

If you sew here is a do-it-yourself pattern and instructions. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-a-crop-bra-for-a-hen-with-pendulous-crop.1464848/

 

[MamaPoult]

Have you done the Epsom flush? I can't recall and don't have time to run back through your thread.

I would try the flush and see how she is after. If she continues to go downhill after trying the flush and the bra, then euthanasia is what I would do.

If you sew here is a do-it-yourself pattern and instructions. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-a-crop-bra-for-a-hen-with-pendulous-crop.1464848/

I haven't done an official flush but I have given her epsom salt via syringe. Alright, thank you, I'll look at it

 

[BigBlueHen53]

So sorry she is still having problems.

 

[azygous]

The Epsom salt flush is one teaspoon Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) in one-half cup warm water given via tubing directly into the crop two times per day for three consecutive days. Syringing just a little does not accomplish anything. The entire one-half cup must be given. My chickens have tolerated this very well, and seemed energized from it.

The idea of the flush is to neutralize the yeast while flushing out the entirety of the digestive tract, removing dead and dying worms or undigested food and poop. It's the chicken version of an enema, except from the top instead of the bottom of the digestive tract.

If you do not know how to tube a chicken, I will give you instructions. If you haven't got the tubing kit, you can order a small animal tubing kit from Amazon or make your own from aquarium tubing or oxygen tubing, but you would then need to find a large capacity oral syringe to fit the tubing.